LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority claimed on Saturday to have completed construction of Azadi Chowk junction and new Circular Road Project in a record time of 165 days at Rs5.35 billion.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would inaugurate the project soon, said an LDA spokesman who added that the work on the signal-free junction was started by the Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning Agency (Tepa) on Jan 15 and it was ready to open to traffic.

“A flyover and an elevated roundabout have been constructed under the project on the Ravi Road. The roundabout has three up-ramps and three down-ramps; two up-ramps and two down-ramps, from Taxali Chowk and to Timber Market. One up-ramp and down-ramp have also been constructed on Maulana Ahmad Ali Road. The overall length of the interchange is 2.53 kilometre,” the spokesman explained.

He said the traffic leading to Circular Road from Data Darbar, Shahdara and Timber Market would use the flyover for going to Maulana Ahmed Ali Road, Lorry Adda and other points on Circular Road.

On average, over 200,000 vehicles will daily pass through the junction, saving fuel of Rs9 million per annum, he said, adding that construction of new Circular Road, measuring 1.6km, was a dual carriageway having 14.7 metres width on each side, comprising four lanes and every lane is 3.3 metre wide.

“A roundabout and two U-turns were also made on this road. This new road starts from Maulana Ahmed Ali Road and connects Minar-e-Pakistan, Lorry Adda, Badami Bagh, Masti Gate and Circular Road,” the spokesman added.

ARRESTS: A special squad of the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) on Saturday arrested 37 beggars, including six children and 15 women.

The team sent children to the Child Protection Bureau and rest of the beggars to the police stations concerned.

Another CDGL team also got 17 people arrested for violating the Ehtram-i-Ramazan Ordinance.

Published in Dawn, July 6th , 2014