PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday ordered early start of work on Peshawar`s uplift and beautification programme and said adequate funds were available for it.

During a meeting here at the Chief Minister`s Secretariat to review the programme, the chief minister said Peshawar was once the city of flowers and gardens and the government wanted to revive its glory.

Under the programme, the provincial capital will be beautified; its main roads will be widened like Islamabad and Lahore, and security gates with sensors will be installed at all major entry points of the city, and parks, water parks, walkingtracks, multipurpose stadiums and cycling tracks will be set up.

Also, mono-train and bus service will be launched to provide people with speedy public transport service.

According to a handout, the relevant officials told participants that work on the programme would begin after the final feasibility report was completed and that would happen in the next few weeks.

They also said a number of related projects for the construction and treatment of roads, bridges, parks, picnic spots, supply of clean drinking water, drainage, streamlining traffic system, plantation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage in the city at a cost of trillion of rupees were in pipeline under Peshawar uplift and beautification programme.

According to the officials, in connection with the widening of thehighways of the city, the Jamrud Road will be widened to three lanes from Karkhano to phaseIII Hayatabad intersection with service lanes in front of markets lying on the road.

Similarly, the service road from GT Road to Jamrud Road will be restored in its original shape with two meters foot-paths on both sides for pedestrians and separate cycle lane of eight to 10 feet.

Also, work on the Nasirpur GT Road to Karkhano Hayatabad will be completed in one year at the estimated cost of Rs25 million. After completion of the work, about 30 rapid buses will start plying on the route after every five minutes and that they will reach end points in 45 minutes only, while ambulances will be also allowed to use the route.

The proposed mono-train or busservice will also be launched on the specially allocated lane on each side of GT Road.

In addition, special provision will be made for bus stops, traffic signals/sign boards and pedestrian crossings including level crossing, zebra crossing and pedestrian overheads at every suitable point on all the roads in the city.

The officials said footpath and walkways would be constructed and benches fixed on the banks of canals to turn them into recreation spots for the locals.

They said food courts would be set up in various places of the city, especially on canal banks, while spots had been identified for the purpose.

According to the officials, in order to improve the municipal services in the city, sanitation vehicles, machines and other equipments will be provided to 25 urban union councils of Peshawar.

Rusty and old pipelines of drinking water supply system will be replaced, while chlorination of water will be ensured to ensure supply of clean drinking water to Peshawarites.

Also, public toilets will be constructed at various places of the city.

To promote tourism, ferry service will be launched on the Kabul River from Sardaryab to Kund.

The officials said race track would be built in Hayatabad for youths, while ladies clubs with gym, indoor games, covered swimming pool, movie theatre hall and sitting spots would be set up for women.

They said to streamline the traffic system of the city, separate transport engineering and planning unit would be set up.

The officials said bus terminal, general bus stand, Charsadda bus stand and Kohat Bus Stand would be upgraded to provide modern facilities of transport to the people.

They assured the chief minister that all process of feasibilities as well as timely and quality completion of the uplift and development programme would be ensured within the shortest possible time.