The Punjab Provincial Development Working Party (PPDWP) has accorded approval of three development schemes of roads and transport sectors with an estimated cost of Rs 12057.227 million. These schemes were approved in the 54th meeting of Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) for current fiscal year 2016-17, presided over by the Chairman P&D Muhammad Jahanzeb Khan, a spokesman of Planning & Development department, said.
Provincial Secretary P&D Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, members of the Planning & Development Board, provincial secretaries concerned and other representatives of the relevant departments attended the meeting. The approved development schemes included: construction of flyover on G.T. Road at Dina with length of 1.47-km, at the cost of Rs 2054.087 million, addition of a lane to the road from motorway interchange Jang Bahtar to Wah, length 3.00-km, tehsil Taxila, district Rawalpindi at the cost of Rs 446.457 million and Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project: shifting of utilities and Lesco power supply interface at the cost of Rs 9556.683 million.
The sources reveal that in Punjab budget, 2016-17, funds of Rs 92,273 million have been allocated for the transport sector including Chinese loan assistance of Rs 85 billion for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project. Targets and major initiatives fixed for 2016-17 include: implementation of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project', completion of Multan Metro Bus Project, land acquisition for Multi-Model Intercity Bus Terminals (MIBT), establishment of Multi-Model Intercity Bus Terminals in Lahore, establishment of Bus Terminal Cum Commercial Complex at Railway Station, Lahore, land acquisition for Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS), TPV Services for Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) and provision of Scooties to working women in Lahore (Pilot Project).
On the other hand, allocation of Rs 27 billion has been made in 2016-17 budget for Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme. The programme has been designed to improve and modernize road network in rural areas to facilitate transportation of agriculture produce from farm to market. This will not only help in improving farming activities but will also help in stimulating rural economy.
It may be added that the vision for Punjab's road sector aims at upgrading, augmenting and maintaining a modern road network in the province under most cost-effective, optimal and efficient development and management regimes. Strategic interventions of the sector include: connectivity of strategic assets with provincial and national road networks, undertaking improvements in road design and specifications, improvement of existing roads geometry, development, rehabilitation and up-gradation of urban road network in mega cities.