Leh Expressway cost continues to balloon
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sought Rs45 billion from the budget of the upcoming fiscal year’s annual development programme for a project that has failed to take off despite the passage of 15 years: the Nullah Leh Expressway. The project was first proposed in 2007 when Pervaiz Elahi was the chief minister, with construction inaugurated by the president at that time, General Pervez Musharraf. The estimated cost was Rs17 billion at that time but that has increased manifold since. The project was put on hold in 2008 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government came to power. The RDA, in its latest request for funds, said the expressway and the ring road project were a necessity to mitigate floods and sustain traffic flow in Rawalpindi. For the expressway, it has sought almost Rs25 billion for the acquisition of land for the Leh Expressway and Flood Channel project. Another Rs20 billion has been requested for the civil works on the project, with Rs30 million sou...