Rawalpindi: The Punjab government provided its approval to the construction of the much-anticipated Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model and will soon invite bids through national and international dailies, according to a news report published on February 23.
As this significant progress milestone has been achieved, we’ll recount all the major developments in the project that occurred in the first two months of 2021:
Rawalpindi Commissioner Captain (retired) Muhammad Mehmood hinted that the infrastructural project will kick off in May or June this year.
The project was submitted for to the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) for approval in January. The plan was approved after ensuring technical and economic feasibility. A construction timeline of 2-year was communicated.
The construction firm that wins the contract will be entitled to a concession period of 25 years – during which it can collect traffic toll. Also, the firm will maintain and repair the road for the said period.
As for the No-objection certificates (NOCs), out of 30 requisite NOCs, 25 have been acquired.
A sum of PKR 6 billion was allocated for land purchase for the project.
The district administration started paying compensation amount to the landowners concerned. A one-window counter in Rawat was also established for the purpose. The per-kanal rate of land acquired in several mouzas is between PKR 70,000 and PKR 4,030,000. The highest value mouzas include Kheri Murat, Mira Khurd, Kaliam Awan, Kotla, and Diwari.
The Punjab government has added 10 new commercial and residential zones to the Rawalpindi Ring Road Project Economic Corridor (RRPEC) initiative.
Construction will be executed in three phases. The authority concerned has finalised the alignment of the 64-kilometre-long route for the RRR project. The six-lane dual carriageway will begin at the Radio Pakistan building on National Highway 5 (GT Road) and merge with the Margalla Road near Sangjani Interchange on the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway M-1.
The ring road will have eight interchanges; one each at Radio Pakistan, Kala Kotha, Murat, Khasala Khurd, Chakri, Fateh Jang Road, Hakla and Sangjani.
On January 18, a conference was held at Rawalpindi Gymkhana Club on the city’s Rashid Minhas Road to enlighten potential investors about the unique investment prospects of the Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) project.
Earlier in January, truck and bus stand owners were asked to relocate their operations to the RRR project site. The authorities concerned had also stated that the land designated for heavy-duty vehicles terminals is available at cheaper rates at the RRR project site.
Finally, the locals have asked the government to preserve over 100-year old banyan tree which lies in the way of the road.
For more updates on the project, stay tuned to Zameen News
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
