LAHORE: The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Monday approved its budget worth Rs57.96bn which also includes allocations for its subordinate agencies, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa).

Advisor to chief minister and member of the governing body, Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan, chaired the budget meeting. Total resources of the LDA, Wasa and Tepa have been estimated as Rs57.96bn out of which Rs37.55bn have been earmarked for development works.

Total resources of the LDA (Urban Development Wing) during the fiscal year 2017-18 have been estimated as Rs38.6bn and this amount will include development expenditure of Rs28.58bn.

This development expenditure includes Rs13.51bn through the LDA’s own sources, Rs14.64bn will be provided by the Punjab government for executing development projects under the Annual Development Programme and Rs540m through LDA’s own sources for carrying out development schemes exclusively in Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and Kasur districts.

Rs37.55bn earmarked for development works

An amount of Rs4.49bn has been allocated through the LDA’s own sources for carrying out development works in LDA housing schemes and the amount includes Rs1bn for Avenue-I, Rs390m for road network, water supply and sewerage in Finance & Trade Centre (Johar Town), Rs2bn for LDA City and Rs1bn for development projects in different housing schemes. The projects will include construction of an underpass at railway crossing near Gurumangat Road, Gulberg, remodeling of junctions and U-turns at Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Khayaban-i-Firdousi, Khyban-i-Jinnah and other development schemes.

A sum of Rs1.40bn has been allocated for construction of different buildings, including Rs800m for construction of a new office building at Johar Town, Rs100m for office at Avenue-I and Rs150m for additional construction work at Park & Shop Plaza near Moon Market. An amount of Rs350m will be spent on development and implementation of integrated computerised systems for the LDA. Shifting of Fruit & Vegetable Market Kot Lakhpat will cost Rs250m. A sum of Rs100m has been allocated for preparation of integrated strategic development plan for Lahore. Construction of pedestrian bridges at different locations in the city will cost Rs170m.

A total of Rs6.08bn has been allocated for new projects in the provincial metropolis. An amount of Rs2 billion has been reserved for construction of Twin Towers Project along Jail Road and Rs100m for construction of an underpass at Shahkam Chowk, Defence Road.

The LDA will execute project for construction of another tower along the Jail Road with Rs1.70bn while development of park, shopping and food court at Johar Town will cost Rs1bn. It will also execute different projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of the Punjab government and other works amounting to total expenditure of Rs14.63bn.

A sum of Rs10bn has been allocated for carrying out civil works, allied works and shifting of services for the Orange Line Metro Train Project.

Other allocations include Rs100m for construction of an approach road from Burki Road to Ashiana-i-Iqbal, Rs50m for widening and improvement of Bedian Road, Burki Road and adjoining approach roads, Rs50m for construction of a new link road for joining Lahore–Multan Motorway with Multan Road, Rs50m for construction of structure plan road from Expo Centre to Bahria Town/Ring Road (Parallel to Canal Bank Road), Rs50m for construction of structure plan road from Expo Centre to Khayaban-i-Jinnah, Rs82.5m for consultancy services for preparation of a master plan for water supply, sewerage, drainage and ground water management system for Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana districts and Rs2.75bn for establishment of 12 sports complex in different constituencies of national assembly.

The LDA has also allocated a sum of Rs540m for carrying out development projects in three districts of Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nanaka Sahib.

WASA: The governing body of the LDA, parent body of Wasa, also approved Rs14.93bn budget of the agency for 2017-18, including Rs5.22bn for development schemes.

The agency will spend Rs3bn on ongoing development schemes. An amount of Rs210m will be spent on development scheme in NA 127,

Rs170m on improvement of water supply system in Johar Town and Tajpura zones for installation of filtration plants and 100pc metering (bulk, distribution and consumer levels), Rs132m for energy saving in water supply system through replacement of inefficient and outlived 105 tube wells, Rs100m on restoration of original cross section (40 feet) of Sattu Katla Drain from Ferozepur Road to Peco Road, Rs40m for preparation of master plan for water supply, sewerage and drainage system for Lahore, Rs100m for sewerage from Larechs Colony to Gulistan-i- Ravi, Rs150m for sewerage system for UC-117,118 and 120, Rs100mfor SCADA system at tube wells, disposal and lift stations, Rs113m for installation of filtration plants on 105 tube wells, Rs286m for replacement of tube wells, Rs200m for storm water drainage system from Haji Camp to the river Ravi, Rs7m for installation of water filtration plant and re-boring of tube well in Ittehad Colony, Gulberg, and Rs134m for drinking water, sewerage system, PCC and allied facilities in Ravi Road, Islampura and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, Tepa will have a total of Rs4.42bn at its disposal whereas its expenditure has been estimated as Rs4.17bn, including development works costing Rs3.81bn.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2017

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