Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday performed ground breaking of Signal Free Corridor of Islamabad Highway here in the evening.
During his speech at launcing ceremony, PM Nawaz said that the project envisages conversion of 24 kilometer Expressway from Zero Point to GT Road Rawat as signal free corridor besides addition of lanes to ease traffic congestion.
It will cost about 21.81 billion rupees.
In the first phase, launched today, four kilometer portion from Zero Point to Faizabad would be completed at a cost of 1.6 billion rupees.
CDA Spokesman Ramzan Sajid informed that the project, costing Rs 21 billion involves the expansion of Expressway to 10 lanes from the Zero Point to Rawat providing the commuters a signal free ride across the 24-kilometer. The project would be executed in three phases. In the first phase, portion of the Expressway between Zero Point and Faizabad interchanges would be widened to 10 lanes. The stretch between Faizabad and the Airport Chowk would be expanded in the second phase and the remaining portion up to Rawat would be catered for in the third phase. The project involves construction of two overhead passages and seven underpasses for an access to housing societies located along the road. Of five lanes on either sides as designed in the project, three would be flexible and the rest two rigid for movement of heavy vehicles.
CDA Spokesman Ramzan Sajid informed that the project, costing Rs 21 billion involves the expansion of Expressway to 10 lanes from the Zero Point to Rawat providing the commuters a signal free ride across the 24-kilometer. The project would be executed in three phases. In the first phase, portion of the Expressway between Zero Point and Faizabad interchanges would be widened to 10 lanes. The stretch between Faizabad and the Airport Chowk would be expanded in the second phase and the remaining portion up to Rawat would be catered for in the third phase. The project involves construction of two overhead passages and seven underpasses for an access to housing societies located along the road. Of five lanes on either sides as designed in the project, three would be flexible and the rest two rigid for movement of heavy vehicles.
The prime minister said that apart from construction of highways, motorways and metro bus projects, the government has also initiated a number of projects to overcome the electricity shortage.
Nawaz Sharif said that 3,600 megawatts electricity would be generated through theliquefied natural gas (LNG) for which the government has allocated billions of rupees in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Sharif said that he has directed the minister for petroleum to implement plans for generation of 1,000 MW of electricity through gas by 2016 so that people get further relief in load-shedding in next summer.
The premier said that 1,400 MW electricity would be added from Tarbela-IV project which is to be completed by 2017. He said that Neelum Jhelum would also provide 960 MW electricity.
