Road likely to be extended to High Court Building according to original plan

By Tahir Rashid

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has again showed interest in commencing the mega project of Nullah Leh Expressway, as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to submit the revised feasibility report on the expressway from High Court Building to Katarian Bridge, till 7 June.

RDA Director General Makeen Shahbaz told Daily Times that they had started work on redefining the project, which was approved by previous government to construct the Expressway from Ammar Chowk to Katarian Bridge, but now the road has been extended to High Court Building. The cost of the project will be also increased as the building material price has also increased manifold.

He said that construction of road on both banks of Nullah Leh from High Court building to Katarian Bridge was as per the actual master plan, conceived by the government when Shahbaz Sharif was the chief minister. The Punjab government wants to revive the original plan of the project, he said. “But presently the Punjab government has not enough funds to start the work on project immediately as closing of financial year is very near,” he said, adding, however it is very much possible that some amount may be allocated in next fiscal budget for the mega project.

It is pertinent to mention here that when ex-president Pervez Musharraf came into power, the Leh Expressway project, like many other development projects in the country, was shelved. But after sometime the former federal minister Sheikh Rashid tried to revive it, but this time it was decided to construct the expressway from Ammar Chowk to Katarian Bridge, reducing its total length. Musharraf inaugurated the Expressway project and announced to name it after Shiekh Rashid.

After general elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) soon after coming into power in the Punjab announced to abolish the project and start another project, the Elevated Expressway to be built over Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road (Murree Road) from Flashman’s Hotel to Faizabad. The Punjab CM also inaugurated the project. Well-placed sources said the security reasons did not allow work on the project, which was abandoned in the planning phase.

The Punjab government has once again focused on the Leh Expressway as the PML-N legislators have asked the Punjab CM to review the project. As the result, RDA DG was asked to submit the revised plan.