Rawalpindi: The Punjab government will start its Leh Expressway project on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis by the end of the current fiscal year, a news source reported. The Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the project will be conducted under this arrangement because of a lack of funds. A toll tax will be imposed on the people using the road.
The minister stressed the need for efforts to prevent flooding in the city during the monsoon season. Moreover, he declared that a permanent solution for building an alternate route between Rawalpindi and Islamabad is imperative. The expressway, once completed, will help to alleviate both of these issues.
A board, headed by the Rawalpindi commissioner, has been formed to conduct a land acquisition study for the project. Minister Rasheed further said that the land along Leh Nullah, where several private homes have been built, will also be cleared. It will then be used for conducting commercial activities.
