LAHORE: The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) approved on Friday its much-awaited annual budget as well as its subordinate agencies— Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa) and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) – for 2018-19.

The body approved the budget in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

The total layout of the 2018-19 budget has been estimated as Rs38.39bn out of which Rs20.18bn have been earmarked for development projects.

According to a spokesman, the total resources of LDA (UD Wing) during the fiscal year 2018-19 have been estimated as Rs23.94bn while development expenditure during this period will be Rs16.03bn. This development expenditure includes Rs5.61bn generated through the LDA’s own sources and Rs10.41bn to be provided by the Punjab government for executing various development projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

Rs20.18bn earmarked for development projects

An amount of Rs1.66bn has been allocated through the LDA’s own sources for carrying out development works in the LDA housing schemes. This includes Rs80m for LDA Avenue-I, Rs120m for construction of road network, water supply and sewerage in Finance & Trade Centre, Johar Town, Rs1.20bn for LDA City and Rs250m as lump sum provision for development projects in different LDA housing schemes. These projects include remodeling of junctions and U-turns at Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Khayaban-i-Firdousi and Khyban-i-Jinnah and other development schemes.

A sum of Rs575m has been allocated for construction of various buildings, including Rs130m for extension of LDA office building at Johar Town, Rs100m for building office in LDA Avenue-I and Rs50m for additional construction work at Park & Shop Plaza, Moon Market, Allama Iqbal Town. A sum of Rs775m has been earmarked for other schemes, including Rs100m for Development and Implementation of Integrated Computerised Systems for the LDA. An amount of Rs10m has been allocated for preparation of integrated strategic development plan for Lahore. Construction of pedestrian bridges at different locations would cost Rs150m. Similarly, Rs1.25bn have been allocated for completing the ongoing schemes, including Rs480m for under-construction park and shop arena in the Johar Town and Rs50m for construction of missing links of structure plan roads.

The LDA will also execute different projects under the ADP of the Punjab government and other deposit works, amounting to a total expenditure of Rs1.19bn. The allocations include Rs216m each for widening of Aik Moria Pul near the Lahore Railway Station and construction of flyover at Shaukat Khanum Chowk, along Khyaban-i- Jinnah, Lahore. The under-construction sports complexes in various national assembly constituencies will get Rs640m. A sum of Rs7.78bn has been allocated for carrying out various works for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.

Tepa will have Rs1.64bn at its disposal whereas its expenditure has been estimated as Rs1.06bn, including the development works costing Rs800m.

“As Wasa expects total receipts of Rs9.34bn in the financial year 2018-19, its estimated expenditures are Rs12.75bn, including Rs3.34bn for development schemes,” said the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018