Nine major road projects on hold

Amid a severe economic and financial crisis and major cuts in development funds, nine mega projects for upgrading major roads in Rawalpindi, including the alternative to the city's main artery Murree Road, Rawal Road, have been deferred and placed in the red zone until Dec 31, 2027. The projects include upgrading, carpeting and widening of roads as well as local infrastructure schemes. Their estimated costs are likely to increase by 100 per cent. The projects have also been deleted from the Annual Development Programme. The development department has temporarily halted nine major road rehabilitation and reconstruction projects due to the unavailability of funds. These include the Khayaban-i-Sir Syed Road project, involving rehabilitation of a 1.6-kilometre road at a cost of Rs213 million; the 1.5-kilometre Bokra Road project costing Rs226 million; and the 1.74-kilometre Fifth Road project costing Rs138 million. The Rawal Road upgrade project, covering a two-kilometre stretch from Ali Nawaz Intersection to Murree Road, was also deferred at an estimated cost of Rs241 million. The Chandni Chowk to Commercial Market Road project, covering 0.8 kilometres, was estimated to cost Rs115 million, while the 1.2-kilometre Railway Workshop Road project was estimated at Rs247 million. Projects for China Market to Gordon College Road and Satellite Town 4-B Road were also dropped due to lack of funds. In addition, projects for upgrading healthcare facilities and hospitals, providing new facilities at medical centres and hospitals and expanding buildings have also been temporarily placed in the red zone due to budget constraints.