LAHORE, Nov 23: President Gen Pervez Musharraf conducted a surprise inspection of The Mall underpass and the another planned near the F C College along with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi here on Sunday afternoon.

The president directed the chief minister to immediately start construction of the Lahore’s ring road on priority basis.

Gen Musharraf also directed the chief minister to continue surprise inspections of all development projects in Lahore.

The president said the underpass was completed a day ahead of schedule because of the surprise visits by the chief minister.

He said the underpasses at the Azadi Chowk, GPO crossing and F C College should also be completed within the stipulated time of three months.

Nevertheless, the president said that the construction of the ring road should be accorded top priority. He asked the chief minister to have all development projects in the entire province completed with personal interest.

Gen Musharraf had reached Lahore on Saturday night without any prior schedule. On Sunday, he telephoned the chief minister, expressing his desire to inspect development projects in the city, including the recently constructed The Mall underpass.

Following the talk, the chief minister reached the Army Guest House without an escort where the president was staying. From there both of them reached The Mall underpass by car without any security alert. Even the traffic police were not informed and the inspection was conducted without disrupting traffic.

On their way to the underpass, the chief minister telephoned the communication and works secretary asking him to reach there alone.

When reached there, the chief minister suggested to call the secretary near the president’s car for appreciation for timely completing the project for security reasons. But, the president decided to alight from his car to appreciate the secretary and other staff.

People stopped after seeing the president and the chief minister at the underpass and clapped as a gesture of welcome.

The president and the chief minister then went to the F.C. College crossing and checked preparations for the underpass whose construction is scheduled to begin soon after Eidul Fitr.