LAHORE: The pace of construction work on the package-2 of the city’s most important project — controlled access Babu Sabu-Niazi Chowk/Interchange scheme (also known as Bund Road Project) — has been accelerated, paving the way for completion and opening for motorists on July 31.

Since the project’s completion is already delayed due to various issues, including a shortage of funds, land acquisition, and other problems, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, in a recent visit to the project site, sought the opening of the project by July 31 by completing service lanes on both sides of the project’s package-2.

“We will complete and open it for the public at large by all means on July 31 as desired by the CM,” Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Tahir Farooq told Dawn.

From Babu Sabu to Gulshan Ravi, the service road will consist of three lanes. However, on the other side (Gulshan Ravi to Babu Sabu), the road will consist of 1.5 lanes. However, it will also be converted into three lanes when the revised cost of the project is approved by Ecnec.

“After completing service lanes (3 and 1.5 lanes on both sides), we will open the project on July 31, keeping in view the severe mobility issues being faced by the residents of various localities including Gulshan Ravi,” he explained.

He said the project’s elevated portion (both package-1 and 2) has already been completed.

“At present, the pace of construction work has been accelerated with the deployment of additional labour and heavy equipment,” he maintained.

The work on the project was launched in the third quarter of 2022 to resolve issues related to Bund Road’s dilapidated condition, traffic congestion, and pollution. After various studies, the government decided to rehabilitate this major outer artery using innovative approaches. Initially, three options were considered for the project titled ‘Rehabilitation of Bund Road from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road along with improvement at Gulshan-i-Ravi T-Junction’.

Under option-1, a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road was proposed. Moreover, a three-lane underpass with 5.1 metres height clearance for the traffic (bound for Babu Sabu Interchange) was also proposed.

Under option-2, a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road with the provision of two protected U-turns was proposed. The third and last option proposed a six-lane dual carriageway from Babu Sabu to Ring Road and a three-lane flyover for the Babu Sabu Interchange-bound traffic.

Later, the design of the project and its scope were reviewed and finalised again with increased height of the main expressway along with other facilities. Finally, in September, the then-caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi laid the foundation stone of the project that restricted mobility of local traffic, including motorcycles, bicycles, cars, and rickshaws on the main elevated corridor by providing them with a separate two-lane expressway on each side with the provision of subways to move towards Babu Sabu or Niazi Chowk or the nearby localities instead of using the Bund Road, which is part of the ring road. Later, the project cost increased to Rs15 billion due to land acquisition for service roads. A revised cost estimate was also submitted to the then-government, which finally approved it, advising the LDA to send it to Ecnec for approval through the departments concerned.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2024