LAHORE: City’s three major projects – Sheranwala Gate Flyover, Shahkam Chowk Flyover and Gulab Devi Underpass & Widening of Lahore Bridge (Kot Lakhpat) – are likely to be completed before the deadlines as work is in full swing.

Since the Gulab Devi underpass is expected to complete soon, it will be opened for the motorists by Dec 20, Dawn has learnt.

“The work on these projects has gained the required pace we want. Therefore, we are expecting that we will complete these projects by February – one month before their deadlines,” Lahore Development Authority chief engineer Mazhar Hussain told Dawn on Sunday.

“The work on the Gulab Devi underpass is almost complete and we are planning its inauguration by Dec 20. We have also started work on widening of the Lahore Bridge known as Kot Lakhpat bridge,” he added.

The work on the aforementioned projects had been launched in June this year after the LDA completed the tendering / bidding process and awarded the projects. Though initially there was delay in land acquisition, the issues were finally resolved.

According to documents available with Dawn, about Rs5 billion Sheranwala Gate Flyover project includes Rs2.634 billion construction cost and the rest for the land acquisition / compensation cost. The flyover total length and width with ramps is 1,000 meters and 17 meters respectively with 19 spans. Besides the flyover, there are some work at grade (on ground) – two lane dual carriageway (7.3 meter width each side). In addition, the new sewerage system measuring 2,500 meters is also part of the project.

The beneficiary areas of the project include Lahore’s northern parts (Railway Station, Walled City, Akbari Mandi, Azam Cloth Market, Landa Bazaar, Badami Bagh, Shadbagh, Misri Shah, GT Road, Shah Alam Market, Data Darbar area, Brandreth Road, Azadi Chowk and areas beyond). “At present, we have completed 55 per cent of the total works,” he said, adding that the land acquisition works involved dismantling of hundreds of shops’ structure. Four plazas were also demolished,” project director Iqrar Ahmad told Dawn.

He pledged to complete the project by Jan 31 two months before the deadline. The work on Shahkam Chowk flyover had been launched in time. However, the land acquisition (64 kanal) was delayed for some time. The possession of the entire pieces of land was given to contractor last month. The project total cost is over Rs4.233 billion that includes Rs2.5487 billion construction cost. The project will end the traffic congestion at Shahkam Chowk and save time, energy and money.

“We have completed around 55 per cent work to date and are expecting the completion before Feb 15,” project director Haroon Saifi told Dawn.

As far as the completion of the Rs1.7 billion Gulab Devi underpass is concerned, the 65 works on this project have been completed. The project involves construction of an underpass and widening of the Lahore / Kot Lakhpat bridge.

“We will complete the entire project by end of January,” the LDA chief engineer said.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2021