Work on pedestrians’ underpass starts at Shamsabad

Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has finally kicked off construction work on underpass at Shamsabad, Murree Road near Gulshan Dadan Khan’s Jamia Masjid which would solely be meant for pedestrians to cross the road.

RDA spokesman Hafiz Muhammad Irfan said the underpass would be constructed at a cost of Rs20 million. The underpass will be eight-feet wide and 500 meters long. It would be completed in 3 months and the contract has been awarded to Concrete Master Firm which won the bidding.

The spokesman told that as the people particularly aged, women and children and ladies were facing problem in crossing Murree Road. Former MNA, Hanif Abbasi sensed the gravity of the problem and held negotiations with the concerned quarters in the federal government which also included Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The prime minister taking notice not only approved the proposal of constructing underpass for pedestrians at different points of Murree Road to facilitate the citizens of Rawalpindi and to prevent them from facing any hardship during crossing the road.

The funds of the project have been release under Prime Minister Global Funds in former MNA Hanif Abbasi’s in trust/scheme. However, ‘The News’ learnt through reliable sources that the city district government intends to construct similar kind of underpass or overhead crossing for pedestrians at Liaquat Bagh Road. The work on underpass/overhead bridge for pedestrians is likely to be initiated after completion of the said project at Shamshabad. However, the sources told that the underpass and overhead bridge would be built under Prime Minister Global Fund in former MNA Shakil Awan Scheme. It would be constructed at the same cost of Rs20 million.

Besides enforcing schemes for pedestrians, the city district government of Rawalpindi on the directives of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif is working to resolve traffic jams at Murree Road which occur particularly from Chandni Chowk to Marir Chowk. In this connection, a plan is in offing to construct underpass from Liaquat Bagh to Marir Chowk.

The work will be carried out by the RDA which is working on the feasibility study and designing of the project. After its completion, summary of PC-I would be submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister for reviewing and approval purpose.