PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has directed the relevant departments to accelerate development projects under the Peshawar Master Development Plan, improve traffic management and ensure the timely completion of ongoing schemes.
He issued the directives while chairing a meeting on the Peshawar Master Development Plan, attended by Finance Adviser Asif Mahmood Pasha, Local Government Adviser Asif Rafiq, the chief secretary and other relevant officials.
During the meeting, the governor was briefed on the 100-day and 180-day targets under the master plan, including the completion of Ring Road missing links, construction of underpasses, installation of electric poles, street lighting and cable management projects.
Officials informed the meeting that three underpasses in Peshawar had been completed, while work on the Pushtakhara and Jamil Chowk underpasses was expected to be completed soon.
The meeting was also informed that work on the installation and rehabilitation of electric poles, lighting and cabling along Ring Road and GT Road was underway at an estimated cost of Rs500 million.
The governor was briefed on plans to rehabilitate, upgrade and construct 35 key roads across Peshawar. Work is also in progress on Level-II of the Pir Zakori Flyover and the expansion of Nasir Bagh Road.
Officials said consultants had been engaged for the proposed construction of underpasses at University Road, Ram Das Chungi and Lahori Chowk Phase-I.
New bus terminal, roads and public spaces
The meeting was informed that the New Peshawar Bus Terminal, spread over 323 kanals, would be made operational soon under a public-private partnership model.
Officials also briefed the governor on proposals to develop shopping malls or residential flats at old bus terminal sites. The removal of debris from areas cleared during anti-encroachment operations was expected to be completed within two days.
Participants discussed plans to beautify the vacated land, plant grass and develop public spaces for citizens.
The feasibility study and design for shifting electricity wires underground from Pir Zakori Flyover to Aman Chowk in the Karkhano Market area had also been completed, officials said.
Traffic congestion and transport regulation
The governor was briefed on traffic congestion in Peshawar, its underlying causes and proposals for parking plazas and other traffic management measures.
Officials identified the construction of central medians on Dalazak Road, Charsadda Road and Circular Road as contributing factors to traffic difficulties.
The meeting was also informed that no rickshaws or Qingqi three-wheelers had been registered since 2016 due to the absence of relevant legislation.
Kundi directed the authorities to initiate legislation without delay to facilitate the registration of Qingqi rickshaws and address related regulatory issues.
He also called for the introduction of an e-challan system, strict enforcement of traffic laws and an effective public awareness campaign to educate citizens about traffic regulations.
The governor directed the relevant departments to establish a joint working group to address congestion at major traffic bottlenecks and consult the traffic police before finalising proposed underpass projects. He also ordered a feasibility study for the construction of an underpass on Kohat Road.
Underground cables, road rehabilitation and beautification
Kundi directed the authorities to prioritise the recarpeting of University Road and work towards shifting electricity wires underground throughout the city.
He said underground cabling could also help prevent electricity theft.
The governor further called for the beautification of Peshawar’s canal roads along the lines of Lahore, with modern lighting and other decorative improvements.
He stressed that ongoing development projects must be completed within their stipulated timelines and that particular attention should be paid to improving electric poles, streetlights and other basic facilities.
The governor also directed officials to take immediate measures to renovate and beautify locations frequented by tourists and to develop public spaces on land cleared during anti-encroachment operations.
Briefing on Regi Model Town
The meeting also included a detailed briefing on Regi Model Town and its development-related matters.
Kundi emphasised that departments should take prompt action wherever legislation was required to resolve public issues, adding that coordination among the relevant authorities was essential for improving the city’s infrastructure, transport system and public facilities.
The meeting reviewed a broad range of proposals aimed at improving urban development, easing traffic congestion and enhancing the overall infrastructure of Peshawar under the master development plan.
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