Rawalpindi:
Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday broke a memorandum of understanding (Mou) with Mott MacDonald Pakistan (PVT) LTD to devise a modern land use plan and corridor development strategy for Rawalpindi Ring Road (RRR) project, where 70 percent of construction is completed.
In line with the instructions from Noorul Amin Mengal, secretary of housing, urban development and public health technology, Mou seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for land use and corridor development along the ring road.
A meeting to formalize the agreement was held in the RDA headquarters under the presidency of additional Director -General Mansoor Ahmed Khan.
RDA Chief Planner Muhammad Tahir Mew, Director Land Ghazanfar Ali Awan, Director Building Control Samiullah Niazi, Director MP & Te Atif Mehmood Chaudhry, Senior RDA Officers, and representatives of Mott MacDonald Pakistan attended the meeting.
Mou was signed by the RDA Chief Planner and the MMP representatives, marking a significant step towards Rawalpindi’s planned and sustainable urban growth.
The project spans an 8.38-kilometer stretch of the ring road with a 500 meter wide belt representing Pakistan’s first modern urban development model based on an economic corridor concept.
The strategy is intended to transform the corridor into a hub for housing, commercial and institutional activity, while also facilitating Rawalpindi’s chronic traffic congestion.
It will incorporate contemporary urban design, advanced infrastructure and improved public facilities. By adopting international best practices, the initiative is expected to strengthen the connection, create financial opportunities and improve the quality of life for local residents.
RDA General Kinza Murtaza paid tribute to the initiative as a historic milestone that will reshape the city’s urban landscape. She noted that the project would not only provide world -class facilities, but also include urban spreading, which ensures that rawalpindi become more habitable and sustainable for future generations.
RDA DG further emphasized that the partnership between RDA and Mott MacDonald Pakistan represents a proactive step towards integrated urban planning and development, location of rawalpindi as a model for cities across the country.
It is worth noting that RRR is considered a “lack of link” in the city’s road infrastructure. With rising traffic congestion on GT Road and inner city routes, the road is seen as the only viable alternative to diverting heavy traffic.
The road is also expected to contribute to economic development through the proposed economic zones and help reduce environmental pollution. In addition, it will reduce traffic accidents marked and secure smoother and uninterrupted traffic flow.
The project imagines the development of logistics and education centers, a health town, dry harbor, business nodes, industrial zones, transport terminals, wholesale markets, recreational parks and housing communities along both sides of the corridor.
