PM seeks briefing on Ammar Shaheed Chowk extension

RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked for a briefing on long-delayed Ammar Shaheed Chowk remodelling and extension project, official said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister’s Adviser Naeemul Haq is expected to  give the briefing next week.

The project worth Rs700 million is not included from of Rawalpindi Development Authority’s (RDA) annual development programme for 2019-20 despite being a major route used both by the general public and the VIPs.

Owing to increasing traffic congestion in the city, the project was termed inevitable five years ago however it got mired in delays and was limited only to a feasibility study prepared in 2013.

In 2017, the Planning and Development (P&D) Department Punjab included the project in its priority list. However it remained unapproved due to unidentified reasons.

The sources said that interest shown by the prime minister in the project had raised hopes that it would see some progress in the near future.

The intersection project, after completion, will ensure smooth flow of traffic from Rawalpindi district courts to Islamabad Airport and onward to Koral Chowk through Ammar Shaheed Chowk and from Koral Chowk to Lahore, Islamabad and Chaklala.