LAHORE: In a bid to resolve the issues related to dilapidated condition, growing traffic mess and pollution, the government has decided to rehabilitate Lahore’s major outer artery - Bund Road - under innovative approaches.

Three options are being worked out for the project titled “Rehabilitation of Bund Road from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road along with improvement at Gulshan-i-Ravi T-Junction, Dawn has learnt.

“The current situation on Bund Road is really pathetic as its various stretches, due to dilapidated condition, have become a major cause of accidents and release of carbon emission. And keeping in view this, the government has decided to rehabilitate this major road, assigning the Lahore Development Authority to launch and complete it on a top priority basis,” a senior LDA official explained while talking to Dawn on Saturday. According to a document, three options have been worked out and sent to the government to allow LDA to opt for the most feasible out of them.

Under option-1, a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road has been proposed.

Moreover, a three-lane underpass having 5.1 meter height clearance for the traffic (bound for Babu Sabu Interchange) has also been proposed. The total project cost including the 10.5 kanal land acquisition has been estimated at over Rs4.959 billion mentioned in the PC-1 has been submitted to the government. However, a major drain on the way would require to be shifted.

Under option-2, a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road with provision of two protected U-turns has been proposed. The cost estimation has been worked out around Rs4.104bn that included over Rs2.079bn for construction and the rest for acquiring the land measuring 40 kanal. The benefits have been identified as signal-free movement on Bund Road and avoiding shifting of the existing drain. However, issues at protected U-turn locations due to large number of heavy vehicles, huge displacement of residents and shops due to massive land acquisition and risk of restricted mobility in case of articulated rigid trucks turning at U-turns have been feared.

The last option proposes a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu to Ring Road and a three-lane flyover for the Babu Sabu Interchange-bound traffic. However, the construction of flyover has been declared as not feasible due to possible adverse effects because of passing of a large number of heavy vehicles.

“Let’s see what the government decides, as we have given three options for execution of this project,” the official said, adding that a couple of major projects are also under discussion these days in a bid to resolve the growing civic issues.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2022