LAHORE: Two leading organisations having engineering expertise have recommended reconstruction of the fire-affected portions of the additional two-lane flyover constructed along the Lahore Bridge (known as Qainchi flyover) on Ferozepur Road.

The recommendations were given to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) after the structure stability experts belonging to the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) — a firm owned and operated by the ministry of energy and University of Engineering & Technology (UET) -- visited the site and inspected the bridge’s portions damaged by the fire erupting under the bridge.

“Nespak has recommended reconstruction of the affected portions (a pillar, girders etc) of the bridge. The Nespak team has also submitted its report to us,” a senior LDA official privy to the development told Dawn on Thursday.

According to him, the UET team’s report is under process as it has sought some more tests to check stability of the affected concrete structure. The team has requested the LDA to deposit the requisite official fee to the university’s bank account, enabling it to conduct the tests.

“But they (the UET experts) are almost of the view that the affected portions should be reconstructed, saying the bridge’s condition in terms of stability is not good,” the official maintained.

The flyover was closed to traffic after a massive fire erupted, seriously damaging some of its portions. The fire allegedly erupted when some drug addicts burnt plastic material lying under the bridge. This left the authorities with no option but to close the bridge for traffic to get the structure’s stability examined by experts, besides ensuring safety of the people. The fire weakened a pillar and girders’ concrete and steel net.

According to official, the reconstruction of the pillar, girders, etc may take nearly two months. The flyover was a part of the Rs1.711 billion Gulab Devi underpass project. The underpass was opened to traffic in June 2022.

But, work on the Lahore bridge expansion could not gain momentum due to various issues, including non-issuance of a no-objection certificate by Pakistan Railways, non-compliance of the power shutdowns schedule by the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) and other operational challenges. Later, the bridge was completed and opened to traffic in 2023 during the interim provincial government led by Mohsin Naqvi as chief minister.

PRICE CONTROL: Price control magistrates, according to a spokesman for the city administration, conducted inspections, imposing heavy fines and getting cases registered against those violating the notified prices of essential items.

The magistrates detected total 237 violations, got two cases registered and issued 266 warnings to vendors. They also imposed a total fine of more than Rs100,000 on the violators.

“A crackdown on overcharging is underway and no one will be allowed to rob citizens,” the spokesman quoted the Lahore DC Syed Musa Raza as having said on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2025