Secretary Local Govt and Rural Development (LG&RD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Jamil Ahmad paid a visit to the under-construction Bab-e-Peshawar Flyover and reviewed the pace and quality of work on it. National Logistic Cell (NLC) has started work on this 2-level flyover at Phase-III squire of Hayatabad-Jamrud Road with cost of Rs 1772.50 million that is named as Bab-e-Peshawar (Gateway of Peshawar). Chief Minister Pervez Khattak laid the foundation stone of this important mega scheme on June 17 last and had fixed deadline of 1st November as its completion.
It is pertinent to mention that Chief Minister without bothering for any security or protocol had paid a surprise visit to this project as well who besides expressing satisfaction on its progress had assured all out co-operation of KP government to NLC for its early completion.
He also asked for comprehensive traffic diversion plan and avoiding technical mistakes like that of Lahore and Islamabad metro bus projects wherein underpasses are choked and plasters start erosion and seepage in heavy rains.
Besides, Additional Secretary LG&RD Barkatullah Khan Marwat, Director Engineers NLC Brigadier Masood Sharif, Project Director NLC Major Sajid Yaqub and DG PDA Aminuddin, the other concerned authorities of NLC, PDA, security and related agencies also accompanied the Secretary LG in the visit.
Major Sajid while thanking KP government on giving best traffic diversion plan for the project told that all construction activities are carried out in nights so that the heavy vehicles and gigantic machinery of NLC could not create hurdles for passers-by in day times. He said ground drilling, foundations and piling works of flyover is in last stages of completion costing Rs 300 million.
Jamil Ahmad asked PDA not to alter design of the project any more. He said importance of such crucial communication links increased manifold in wake of recent developments for regional peace, stability and economic relations with China, Afghanistan and Central Asian states. He expressed the confidence that Bab-e-Peshawar would prove milestone achievement in launching series of unique mega projects in the provincial metropolis. He said that this modern flyover at the confluence of FATA, Hayatabad, Karkhano Market, Industrial Estate and Regi Lalma Township would greatly contribute in removing the traffic problems on this busy highway and would also help in accelerating industrial, commercial and economic activities in the region to revive the past glory of Peshawar as trade centre of Central Asia.
Similarly, he said this flyover complex would emerge as the training and testing center for the experts and students of engineering in respect of study and research for ensuring smooth passage of traffic in Peshawar and saving precious time of the commuters. Secretary LG also inspected the vast construction camp of NLC spreading in 500 meters area of former Kacha Garhi Afghan Refugee camp. Heavy construction machinery including 2 computerised batching plants, steel fabrication yard and reinforce earth panels installed with cost of Rs 500 million. He expressed satisfaction on overall progress and underlined need of its expeditious completion in larger public interest.