Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has pre-qualified four construction firms for the Leh Expressway project development, a news source reported. Previously, nine companies had submitted their bidding documents for the project.
The pre-qualified firms have been told to submit their final proposals within the next two weeks, after which the project will be awarded to one company.
The project to avoid flooding in garrison city and provide an alternative way between the twin cities is to constructed by the Punjab government by way of a Public-Private Partnership. The construction company for the partnership will be decided by next month and the project is expected to begin by the end of year.
Work will start from Soan Bridge and aim to facilitate the maximum number of commuters. The 22-kilometre-long expressway will be signal free, with interchanges at three locations along with ten bridges and eight flyovers. It will be constructed on both sides of the Leh Nullah and ease congestion on Airport Road and Benazir Bhutto Road.
An official said that the government had appointed the Rawalpindi commissioner as project director for this project and the RDA as the executing authority. The commissioner recently convened a meeting to discuss the procurement of land for the project. RDA was asked to conduct a feasibility study from Katarian bridge to Soan River as the authority wants to extend the expressway to Kashmir Highway.
