07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

LAHORE, Feb 6: The Frontier Works Organization will start work on the Rs3 billion Lahore-Faisalabad Expressway project from next month, Brig Javed Ashraf Bajwa of the FWO told newsmen here on Friday.

The FWO would construct the 120-kilometre four-lane expressway in three years on a built-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

Brig Bajwa said the FWO had been given 25 years' concession by the Punjab government for the recovery of the construction cost by levying toll on the road. This was the first BOT-based road construction project being undertaken in the province, he added.

The FWO official also said the organization, in collaboration with a number of private construction firms, had formed a company (LAFCO) for the execution of the Lahore-Sheikhupura-Faisalabad expressway.

He hoped that the new road would facilitate investment along the route and check damage caused to vehicles, besides reducing the travelling time. -APP