The Rawalpindi administration is going to redesign the Kutchery Chowk project, which was originally designed at a cost of Rs6.4 billion to alleviate traffic congestion at the busy square, due to “security concerns.”
Originally, the project included?the construction of an overhead bridge and an underpass, however,?these structures have since been dropped due to “security concerns” stated by garrison authorities. The project was granted to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), but the garrison officials did not give the go-ahead.
When Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha visited the project site this week, he informed the media?that the project would continue, but with certain modifications. “We have decided to drop the construction of the flyover and underpass due to security concerns,” he said, continuing that now roads will be expanded just to ease the flow of traffic.
He stated that the signal-free corridor will run from Ammar Chowk to Motorway Chowk?and that the development of Kutchery Chowk would help to alleviate traffic congestion in the main square. He added?that the project’s cost will be decreased and that the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had been directed to develop a new plan within a few days. He did not reveal the project’s revised cost.
Meanwhile, the commissioner said that Initially, 80 marlas were necessary for the building of the flyover, underpass, and roadways, but 170 marlas are now required. “As per the initial estimates, Fatima Jinnah Women University, the commissioner’s office, income tax offices and other departments had to surrender their land for the public interest project,” he said.
?In addition, extra lanes would be added to the current track, and service roads and footpaths would be built. He stated that the traffic police have been urged to prepare an immediate strategy to ensure that the extension of the major square does not disrupt traffic flow.