Punjab government bans construction of new roads, crossing railway tracks

Lahore : “Punjab government bans construction of new roads, crossing railway tracks, this step is taken to minimize the rail crossings and potential risks for citizens using them.” Chairman Planning and Development Punjab Jahanzeb Khan told minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique while briefing on safe level crossings at Lahore. High Officials of Pakistan Railways and P&D Punjab attended the meeting.

“We have undertaken an action plan to ensure maximum safety in train operations, so it is essential for provincial governments to allocate specific budget for underpasses and flyovers before constructing new roads along railway lines”, said the Minister.

The Chairman Planning and Development told Minister that Punjab government will release 778 million by June, this year to change another 75 dangerous and congested level crossings into manned and signaled, It has already installed gates on 75 level crossings and converted them from unmanned to manned last year. Consensus was developed in the meeting to construct underpasses and flyovers on vulnerable level crossings on BOT (Build, Operate and Transfer) basis under Public Private Partnership.

To increase vigilance, Joint monitoring mechanism would be devised by Pakistan Railways and Punjab government on newly constructed level crossings.