Shahdara to Raiwind: PR, PHA revive plan to develop greenbelts along railway tracks.

LAHORE -- Pakistan Railways (PR) and Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) have agreed to revive a five-year-old agreement under which the latter was to develop greenbelts along the railway tracks from Shahdara to Raiwind under the project reportedly titled 'Railway Green Corridor' worth Rs820 million.

With revival of the agreement, the PHA, in association with the PR, will first carry out a survey of the project area and then launch greenbelts development work, including some recreational activities for revenue generation, Dawn has learnt.

'It was actually an old agreement signed between the PR and PHA during the last tenure of the PML-N government. This is now being revived,' PR Divisional Superintendent (DS) Mr Hanif Gul told Dawn on Saturday.

'A PHA delegation also held a meeting with us a couple of days ago where it was decided to revive the agreement by launching the development works related to greenbelts along the railways lines and the empty areas near the stations between Shahdara and Raiwind,' he explained.

Sources say the PR had earlier got developed greenbelts along the railway line at Kot Lakhpat railway station. The PR also got developed walkways and placed benches in the green area. However, the scheme was shelved due to paucity of funds, lack of interest and other administrative issues, they add.

Mr Gul says that besides being an environment-friendly initiative, the project would help avert accidents on the railway line as the fence along these green areas would bar people from crossing the tracks.

'There are around 15 sites between Shahdra and Raiwind we want to develop initially in collaboration with the PHA. Later, we will expand this pilot project by covering all vacant stretches along the railway track from Shahdara to Kot Lakhpat,' the DS says, adding that PR may also provide workers to assist the PHA staff engaged for...

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