Swapping projects: Flyover replaces Chur Chowk underpass

RAWALPINDI, Jan 9: The Punjab government has finally dropped the Rs520 million Chur Chowk Underpass project and decided to construct flyover at Pirwadhai Mor at an estimated cost of Rs1 billion to handle the traffic on Peshawar Road.

Sources told Dawn on Sunday that Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) authorities and traffic experts have expressed reservations over the construction of the underpass.

They said the experts were of the view that the underpass project would prove a bottleneck for traffic and was likely to cause traffic jam at Pirwadhai Mor – the main square connecting I.J. Principal Road with Peshawar Road.

They said earlier National Logistic Cell (NLC) had also expressed its concern over the construction of the underpass and suggested the provincial government to build a flyover instead at the same place. The cell cited the failure of underpasses in Lahore.

The provincial government was to launch the project in August 2010 but after the reservations of the NLC and other cantonment authorities, it delayed the project.

It may be mentioned here that the Elevated Expressway project had also been announced in haste and without planning.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif laid its foundation stone at Shamsabad in 2008. However, later it was canceled.

Similarly, the chief minister laid foundation stone of Mother and Child Hospital at Committee Chowk in November 2010 but work on it could not be started despite a lapse of one year.

RCB Cantonment Board Executive Officer Rana Manzoor Ahmed Khan said the cantonment authorities had given a green signal to the provincial government for construction of flyover at Pirwadhai Mor. He said the area fell under the administrative control of RCB but it welcomed the provincial government to launch the development scheme for the benefit of the residents.

Mr Khan further added that the provincial government had neither consulted the RCB for Chur Chowk underpass project nor is it consulting them on the Pirwadhai Flyover project.

“The provincial government should take RCB on board before launching any project in the cantonment area as the cantonment board would have to handle the flyover or underpass after its construction,” the official said.

When contacted, PML-N MNA from NA-56 Malik Abrar said the provincial government would soon announce the project to construct Pirwadhai Mor flyover instead of Chur Chowk underpass after completing consultation meetings in Lahore next week.

He said the provincial government was working to improve Golra Mor Road connecting Rawalpindi with Islamabad and it would also construct service roads along the main road.

The MNA said funds would also be provided for widening of Peshawar Road from Chur Chowk to Chairing Cross and work on it would commence next month.

He said the provincial government wanted to start development work for the cantonment areas as more than two National Assembly and four provincial assembly constituencies fell in cantonment areas of Rawalpindi.