PM forms body to finalise proposal to begin work on Leh Expressway

RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday formed a committee of five members to finalise the proposal to begin the Leh Expressway project, under which another road will be developed to connect Rawalpindi and Islamabad along with a flood channel.

The committee will be led by Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Rawalpindi Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood, the Punjab minister for industries and Punjab chief secretary are its members.

The decision was made at a meeting at the Prime Minister Secretariat on Wednesday, where Mr Khan was briefed by Sheikh Rashid and Parliamentary Secretary on Anti-Narcotics Sheikh Rashid Shafique.

Three options to begin the project in the mode of a public private partnership were discussed. Mr Khan formed the committee to look into this matter and finalise one proposal.

Mr Mehmood told the meeting that the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs79.1 billion, including Rs6.1bn for the construction of roads on both sides of Leh Nullah from Soan River to I.J. Principal Road, Rs16.7bn on the flood channel, Rs16.5bn for structures and bridges, Rs2.8bn to shift utility services and Rs6.8bn for horticulture, taxes and consultancy charges.

“As many as 1,604 houses fall in right of the way of Leh Expressway. Total 1,279 kanals of land is required. As many as 1,035.98 kanals of land is private, 132.4 kanals is of the Military Engineering and Works, 54.72 kanals is of the Chaklala Cantonment Board and 56 kanals is land of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board,” the official said.

Three options under public-private partnership being considered

He added that the widening and lining of Leh Nullah would enhance its capacity to avoid flooding for another 100 years, and an additional route between the twin cities would reduce the traffic on existing roads.

“It will also solve the environmental pollution and foul smell in areas along Leh Nullah,” he said.

The proposal to cover Leh Nullah and building a shopping mall was rejected, as officials said it would face a number of problems including parking and traffic congestion.

There are currently three options to attract investors for the project, the meeting was told. A total 5,400 kanals of land allocated for a sewage treatment plant in Adiala village could be given to an investor to build a housing development in exchange for funds to be spent on the construction of the expressway.

The second option is the use 35 kanals of land near Liaquat Bagh for commercial purposes and use the earnings on the expressway project, and the third is to give an investor 84 kanals of land near Soan River to generate money from commercial use so the investor would partner with the provincial government to launch the project.

Mr Shafique, a PTI MNA,that Mr Khan wanted to launch the project for the twin cities and asked the committee to finalise a proposal as soon as possible.

He said work would begin soon; a meeting in this regard will be held in Lahore in a week or two.

Mr Shafique said that Sheikh Rashid believes that there should not be any toll tax on this road, which is why the government is looking for an investor.

He said a Chinese firm has begun working on a feasibility study for free to run a circular train between Rawalpindi and Islamabad on this route.

Mr Mehmood  the administration was ready to begin working on the expressway project once it is approved by the prime minister.