Punjab Govt Considering for Rail Network along Rawalpindi Ring Road.

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government is considering establishing a rail network along the proposed Ring Road from Rawat to Sangjani.

Briefing traders and shopkeepers at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Ring Road Project Management Unit Deputy Director M. Abdullah said the proposal for rapid rail transit was under consideration.

He said suggestions of stakeholders would be shared with the project director so that they could be made a part of the project. The proposed project includes the construction of industrial zones as well as a health city, dry port, bus and truck terminals, and theme parks.

He said the proposed Ring Road would be a 65 km road and Rs6.5 billion had been released for the purchase of land for it.

A senior official of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Dawn that the rail network was part of the project in 1996, but the previous PML-N Punjab government made changes to the project in 2016.

“The previous government reduced the right of way from 800 meters on each side of the road to 300 meters and dropped the idea of the rail lines because more land was to be acquired for it,” he said.

However, the PTI government is again considering laying a rail track along the Ring Road to provide additional means of transport between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

He said if the rail network was added the cost of the project would increase. “The government has no additional funds as it has already released Rs6.5 billion for the land acquisition,” he said.

On the other hand, the briefing session was attended by a large number of representatives of traders associations and officials and office-bearers of RCCI.

M Abdullah was accompanied by environment specialist Adeel Pervez and financial expert Zeeshan Amin.

RCCI President Nasir Mirza said the Ring Road project would increase business activities as the proposed industrial zones can turn Rawalpindi into a hub of trade activities.

“The stakeholders should be taken on board while finalizing the allocation and demarcation of the industrial zones,” he said.

He said this is an important project for the development of Rawalpindi and should be completed as soon as possible.

The government and the RDA should purchase land for the proposed industrial zones.

He said the main objective of the project was to shift markets, easing traffic congestion, and promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Group leader and former president Sohail Altaf said the project should be given full government patronage. Investors should not be left at the mercy of the land mafia.

A committee should be formed on the platform of the chamber of commerce to liaise with the RDA and the commissioner office and implement the suggestions of the stakeholders to remove obstacles to the completion of the project.

Senior Vice President Osman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz A. Malik, former presidents, representatives of Anjuman-i-Tajiran, members of the executive committee, and members were also present on the occasion.