Centre, Punjab to share cost of Ravi project phase-I

[Salman]

Centre, Punjab to share cost of Ravi project phase-I

LAHORE: The federal and Punjab government will equally share the cost of phase-I of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development (RRUD) Project.

The Rs8 billion phase-1 has been named “Mughal Gateway Project” being planned and launched after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought its completion within one-year timeframe.

The Punjab government sources say keeping in view nature of the task and the premier’s special interest various departments mainly the Lahore Development Authority, archaeology, irrigation departments and the Lahore divisional administration have been asked to coordinate all affairs related to early completion of the phase that includes a number of construction and rehabilitation activities.

“The phase-1 will have restoration of Jehangir tomb, establishment of a lake, an international standard cinema, theme park, restaurants, museum comprising artifacts of Mughal era, recreational parks, jogging tracks, boating facility and chairlift to facilitate visitors to the tomb,” an official told Dawn.

He said the Punjab government would receive PC-1 (Project Cost-1) by end of this week or so. He said the consultants recently hired by LDA to prepare feasibility and a detailed design of the entire RRUD project, were also assisting the departments in planning, launching and accomplishing the task.

Another official told this reporter that the archaeology department, which had previously estimated restoration of the tomb at a cost of Rs300 million through PC-1 separately, was now revising the cost keeping in view nature of the phase.

“The Rs300 million cost estimated by the archaeology department may be reduced or increased in view of the work,” the official said, adding that the Parks and Horticulture Authority too would be engaged in the project at a later stage.

The official said the departments engaged were also working out distribution of various tasks to be accomplished during this phase.

“The archaeology department will get the tomb restoration work executed, the irrigation will facilitate the government in constructing lake with provision of required water management, LDA will complete the infrastructure and PHA will work for developing parks etc. The divisional administration will monitor all activities,” the official added.