LAHORE, Sept 27 Construction of Shalimar interchange and underpass is likely to be completed by the end of October, one month after the deadline set by the Punjab chief minister.

“Stoppage of work on the project for three months owing to multiple unforeseen reasons is to be blamed for the delay,” an official of the Lahore Development Authority said on Sunday.

Inclusion of underpass at the later stage also prolonged the time of completion of the project, he said.

“But the major factor that really damaged the pace of work was the time when the PML-N government in Punjab was dislodged,” maintained the official who sought anonymity.

Comprising four lanes, a one kilometre long flyover connecting the existing Shalimar Link Road to the Cantonment is being constructed for the speedy flow of some 35,000 vehicles that ply across the canal daily.

An underpass with three lanes on each side has been near completion along both sides of the Lahore Canal for the benefit of more than 47,000 vehicles per day.

The project was designed by M/s NESPAK. The architectural features of Shalimar Gardens were also being incorporated in the project design, said the official.

Work on the project began in September last year and initially the flyover was to be constructed along the canal. Later, the underpass was also included in the project that would cost Rs2 billion.

“The Shalimar Interchange project is a unique project because nobody residing and running a business in its vicinity had made any complaint about the acquisition of land,” the official said.

He said the chief minister during a recent meeting was informed that the project could not be completed by Sept 30 even if the work had to be carried out in three shifts without any pause.