The Punjab government has finalised Rs 11.06 billion plan for widening and repairing of the road network in 28 districts of the province to provide better communication facilities to common people. The main objective behind this plan is to enhance the economic activities in the province and provide access to farmers to bring their produce to market quickly, said the sources in the Punjab communication ministry.
Sources told Business Recorder the financial assistance for streamlining the road network in Punjab would be provided by the Asian Development Bank under the Road Sector Development Project.
Under this project, they said that 1020-km roads in the urban areas of 19 districts of the province would be widened up to 20 feet with the estimated cost of Rs 6.063 billion. These 19 district include Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Pak Pattan, Bahawalpur, Vehari and Rahimyar Khan, sources said, adding that besides widening the roads up to 20 feet, three feet treated shoulders would also be constructed.
They said in the second phase of the project, roads measuring 303-km in eight districts would be widened up to 24 feet for better communication facilities, adding the cost on this phase of the project was estimated at Rs 4.90 billion.
Giving details of the second phase of the project, the sources said the important roads in eight districts of the province were included in this project which would be widened to 24 feet with a treated shoulder of three feet.
They said the roads include Sargodha - Khushab Road, Kamalpur Chaniot - Sargodha Road, Pindi Bhattian - Chiniot Road, Jhang - Shurkot Road, Jhang - Toba Tek Singh Road, Chechawatni Road, and Kabirwala - Mahni Sial Road.
The sources said the provincial government has also decided to link all these roads with the Motorway for better communication links, adding it is a government move to provide better link to farmers between their farm to market in order to help them to bring their yields to market quickly.
Sources said it would increase farmers' earnings and improve their living standard besides enhancing the economic activities of the country.