RAWALPINDI, Oct 18 (APP):Rawalpindi is undergoing a magnificent infrastructural transformation as the provincial government fast-tracks several multi billion rupee projects designed to permanently resolve chronic water shortages, modernize municipal services, and overhaul transit connectivity.
Flagship schemes such as the Daducha Dam, the Rawal Dam bulk water supply pipeline, Chhahn Dam Water supply project, the 38-kilometre mighty Rawalpindi Ring Road and strategic urban underpasses are systematically tackling the city’s mounting supply-demand deficits while redirecting heavy transit away from congested commercial districts to alleviate everyday civic burdens.
Detailing the sweeping administrative efforts, Commissioner Salman Ghani in an exclusive talk with APP highlighted that the Punjab government is vigorously executing multiple mega projects to expand the city transit links and address the critical deman- supply gap.
“To combat long plagued water shortage challenges, he elaborated that Rawalpindi’s current available water supply stands at 51 million gallons per day (MGD) against a total requirement of 72 million gallons, a deficit that is planned to be bridged and expanded to 83 MGD over the coming years through comprehensive initiatives”, he said.
The commissioner highlighted that the Daducha Dam project has reached advanced completion stages standing at 92% physically completed, with a target to finish remaining civil works, including spillways, bridges, and intake/outlet structures, by the end of this year.
To a question, Salman Ghani informed that to bridge the supply-demand deficit, the Punjab government has approved PC-1 for a surface water treatment plant, a 28 km water supply line, and a comprehensive distribution network yielding 35 MGD, which will be shared equally between Rawalpindi City and its two antonment areas.
In addition to major water reservoirs, he highlighted that rain harvesting systems are being actively promoted to conserve rainwater. “Initial implementations already underway across select residential areas in Murree and Rawalpindi”, he said.
Nearly 1500 prototype water harvesting initives have been successfully completed in Murree.
Addressing additional measures to counter the depleting water table, he informed that a new pipeline project from Rawal Dam to Rawalpindi is progressing swiftly. The project involves laying a new pipeline system to accelerate the city’s surface water intake from Rawal Lake.
On road expansion, traffic management and enhanced connectivity with Islamabad, he highlighted that the Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) serves as a primary milestone. He observed that the 38.3 km highway connecting GT Road to the M-2, M-1, and the airport corridor is 99% physically complete, with phases opening to traffic to divert heavy freight and transit loads away from urban centers, saving commuters from navigating through the entire city.
“Only a few subways and approach roads are left, where speedy work is in progress”, he said.
He emphasized that the Punjab government maintains a strong focus on urban openness and smooth traffic flow through various underpasses and roadways, specifically pointing out the lack of alternate routes during blockages on Murree Road. He pointed out that recent examples include the remodeling of Maraqa-e-Haq Square and the underpasses under construction on Peshawar Road at Pirwadhai and C&W sites.
The signal free corridor has already cleared several bottlenecks. Work on the two underpasses on Peshawar Road, has already been accelerated to complete by November this year.
The commissioner further said that prior to these, an underpass was successfully built on Mall Road near GPO, while a similar underpass project is currently underway on the Golra Morr side.
He informed that another connectivity Road scheme of the city linking to Islamab is also on cards. “Deliberations are actively underway to construct additional connecting road, such as a major proposed link from Marir Hassan toward the IGP Road to link Rawalpindi with Islamabad seamlessly, with feasibility studies currently in progress”, the commissioner said.
To another question, the commissioner concluded that Punjab government has put a special focus on Rawalpindi’s mega projects. He said that contractors have been ordered to expedite the work for timely completion with zero tolerance on quality material.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
