Ring Road Project to Be Completed in April: RDA DG

News Desk

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Kinza Murtaza has said that the Ring Road project is expected to be completed by April this year, with 78 per cent of the work already finished. She added that a study for Ring Road Phase II has also been initiated.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Rawalpindi Press Club at the start of the New Year, the RDA chief, along with Chief Engineer Anwar Baran and Director Planning Tahir Mayo, briefed journalists on the authority’s achievements and challenges.

Kinza Murtaza said Murree Road would be expanded by 15 feet on both sides to improve traffic flow. She also informed that QR codes have been introduced for private housing schemes to curb fraud, adding that Rawalpindi currently lacks a master plan, which is essential for planned and sustainable development.

Referring to the Ring Road, the DG said the project would connect the M-2 CPEC route to Margalla Avenue via Thalian Interchange. She said a bus and truck depot, along with a vegetable and fruit market, would be established along the route, while heavy buses would not be allowed beyond T-Chowk. She added that a national transport policy is also being formulated.

Addressing governance issues, the DG said officials found involved in the RDA financial scandal would be dismissed after the completion of the inquiry.

She further said the approval of residential building plans has been made conditional on planting a specified number of trees. She added that all residential building plan and commercialisation files must now be submitted through the e-system, as the manual process has been abolished.

Highlighting public transport initiatives, Kinza Murtaza said the green electric bus project has been highly successful and that a request has been made to the Chief Minister of Punjab to increase the number of buses.

On Nullah Leh, the RDA team said a comprehensive study is required, noting that the trunk sewer and treatment plant are among the most expensive projects and that no funds are currently available.

They have requested the Punjab government’s approval for a detailed study of the flood channel, rainwater management and alternative routes for Nullah Leh, seeking Rs25 billion for the study after consultants declined to conduct it for Rs4 billion.

The DG said the image of RDA has improved in recent months and that efforts are under way to resolve the University Town issue. She said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have been tasked with taking action against the owners of University Town.

“The affairs of this private housing society fall under NAB. If the government takes over, RDA can assume control of this private housing scheme, which was originally developed by RDA,” she told the media.