RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) will be working on only one development project, the Ring Road, till the next elections.

The caretaker Punjab government has allocated Rs6 billion as a four-month budget (November-February) for the RDA.

The amount will be released only for the construction work as the RDA already has Rs6 billion available for land acquisition for the project. The total cost of the project is Rs33.7 billion - Rs27 billion for construction and Rs6.7 billion for land acquisition.

A senior official of RDA told Dawn that the civic body was also repairing 6th Road Metro Bus Station at a cost of Rs99 million which was not part of the annual development programme.

He said the repair work was started on the request of Punjab Masstransit Authority and the funds had been provided by the government from the head of repair and maintenance.

He said the RDA had sent more than five development schemes to the government but funds were allocated only for the Ring Road. At present, the civic body has no other development work.

On the other hand, the government has allocated Rs1 million for four months to acquire land for a project to supply water from Daducha Dam by Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa). The total cost of the project to establish filtration plants and lay water supply system from Daducha Dam to the garrison city is Rs900 million.

The official said: “Rs19 million allocated for two uplift schemes of Wasa, including Rs18 million for rehabilitation of sewerage system in Satellite Town and adjoining areas. The total cost of the project is Rs200 million but Rs18 million allocated for next four months.”

He said Rs1 million were allocated for a Rs5.195 billion project to set up four sewage treatment plants and sewerage lines under Phase-I in Rawal Lake and its surrounding areas.

He said this project would be executed under the supervision of Capital Development Authority but the Punjab government would share its 35 per cent cost.

He said the caretaker government was of the view that there was shortage of funds and the remaining ongoing projects and new uplift works would be carried out after February or the next fiscal year.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2023