RAWALPINDI: The section of GT Road was opened for traffic after getting clearance from experts a day after the retaining wall on it next to Soan Bridge in front of Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench collapsed.

The retaining wall on the road (recently renamed as Potohar Avenue) adjacent to the under-construction Soan Bridge caved in on Sunday morning, sending three heavy machinery hundreds of feet down the road beside the Leh Nullah. Three people were also injured.

Traffic mess was witnessed on this section during office hours and in the evening. Mostly, vehicles got stuck on the section from Ayub Park to Soan Bridge as the remodeling of Defence Chowk in front of DH A Phase-I and Fauji Foundation Hospitalis going on. NLC is also working on Defence Chowk remodeling project worth Rs734 million.

The rehabilitation of the road from Ayub Park to T-Chowk is likely to complete by the end of September while the construction work will continue till next year as the deadline of completion of the Soan Bridge extension is August 31, 2024.

NHA spokesman Umair Khan told Dawn that 60 per cent work on Soan Bridge extension project had already been completed and the remaining 40pc would be completed by August 31, 2024.He said the deadline was fixed as per initial contract and the contractor had been asked to complete the work by 2024. He said that the work was likely to complete in the stipulated timeframe.

About rehabilitation of G.T. Road section from Ayub Park to T-Chowk Rawat, he said the total cost of the project was Rs1,076 million and it would complete by September end this year.

To a question, he said that since NHA was not responsible in any way whatsoever for the collapse of the retaining wall, no inquiry was needed.

He said that there was no loss of life and property to the public, and the contractor may deal with it.

He said NHA had asked the contractor to repair it with existing terms and conditions.

On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema visited the site after collapse of the retaining wall and asked the police to manage traffic so commuters would not suffer.He also asked the administration to request the NHA to inspect the road and prepare a brief about the incident which would be presented to the Punjab government within a week.