RAWALPINDI: Punjab government has released Rs700 million for the construction of GPO underpass on The Mall, a senior official of the district administration told Dawn. The total cost of the project is Rs4.6 billlion.

Besides, Rs67 million have been released for the shifting of services including Rs35 million to SNGPL, Rs18 million to Iesco , Rs10 million to Chaklala Cantonment Board and Rs4 million to other services.

A senior official of district administration told Dawn that the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) had been given contract and the Punjab Communication and Works department was the executing agency while the work plan will be made this week.

He said the total length and heightof the underpass will be3,231 feet and 18 feet respectively and total 2208 piles will be constructed. `It will be double barrel underpass with two lanes on each side of the road.

He said that the district administration was working with the traffic police for the alternative access routes for the main offices situated on The Mall.

`People will use Convey Road for entry to Military Hospital and Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board offices, State Life building while Haider Road will be opened for the visitors of banks, offices and medical stores and markets,` he said.

He said that once the work starts, The Mall will be closed for the traffic from Miltary Hospital to Tariq Mehmood (TM) Chowk in front of General Headquarters (GHQ). However, he said that the work plan would be ready this week.He said the department had conducted a survey of the area and found out that 193,000 vehicles pass through this intersection every day.

`Basically, this project is a part of the signal-free corridor from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway Chowk,` he said, adding that the Punjab government had decided to execute this project in phases.

According to the initial plan, the corridor will be constructed from Ammar Chowk to the Motorway Chowk, and five underpasses and one flyover will be constructed, he added.

He said underpasses will be constructed on The Mall in front of the Pearl Continental Hotel, General Post Office Chowk, and Military Hospital Chowk. A flyover will be constructed at Qasim Market on Peshawar Road, he said, adding that U-turns would also be constructed in different areas.