13 underpasses proposed in Peshawar

Peshawar: The cabinet sub-committee constituted by the Chief Minister to identify and propose development schemes for the provincial metropolis had decided the construction of at least 13 underpasses for the insuring uninterrupted vehicular traffic at busy squares of the city.

The sub-committee was constituted under the chairmanship of senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour with other ministers hailing from Peshawar included Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Syed Aqil Shah, Arbab Ayub Jan, Deputy Speaker, Khushdil Khan advocate. Later, the committee was expanded and Mian Iftikahr Hussein, Additional Chief Secretary Javed Iqbal and Secretary Local Government, Hafiz-ur-Rehman were also made members of the body.

The sub-committee in its meeting held with chairman, Bashir Ahmad Bilour took a number of decisions for development of provincial metropolis and catering the basic needs of Peshawarites in a meeting of the provincial cabinet sub-committee on Peshawar Development Package.

The package also included provision of filtered potable water to the city from Warsak Dam, installation of 192 tube wells and commissioning it by coming summer season, construction of 13 under passes for smooth and uninterrupted passage of traffic at busy squires including Suekarno chowk Qissi Khan GT road and Circular road, starting work on one underpass at Gulbahar crossing within three months, expansion and improvement of Ring Road at a cost of Rs 1 billion, improvement of the public transport, controlling the traffic and environmental problems, construction of modern bus terminal, starting work on the Northern Bypass to link Charsadda road with Jamrud Road and starting Shuttle train service from Chamkani to Hayatabad.

The committee chalked out a working plant for providing better facilities to the people in all social sectors including health, education, transport and water supply while all the govt departments including the federal ministries were make bound for making streamlined efforts for development of the provincial capital. It was decided that the developmental plan would be implemented in a gradual manner due to law and order and financial problems.

The recent meeting conceded to the developmental plan of Peshawar and it was decided to further the developmental process in light of the recommendations of the sub-committees. It was also decided that all the old and smoke emitting public transport would be replaced with a new one while both the registration and permit issuing would be made compulsory for the new public transport in future. Hence no public vehicle would be registered without valid permit for a specific route.

The Senior Minister directed for holding consultation meetings with the concerned transporter communities under the chairmanship of Provincial Transport Minister and then strictly implemented the laws. It was also decided that since the Northern Bypass to link Charsadda Road with Jamrud Road would prove a substitute of the Motorway and missing part of the Ring Road hence its construction would be ensured as per international needs and foreign investment would also be acquired to ensure its early completion.

It was also decided to hold meeting of the committee with three federal Ministers hailing from Peshawar viz Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Arbab Alamgir Khan and Arbab Mohammad Zahir Khan at Islamabad soon that would also be attended by the concerned high authorities of Railways, Communication and Defence Ministries to make on the spot decisions and ensure early and quality completion of these important and historical projects.