LAHORE: An agreement for the construction of Lahore Ring Road’s Southern Loop (3) was signed on Saturday, paving way for likely initiation of work on the Rs10 billion project by end of this week.

The agreement was signed between the Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA) and National Logistics Cell (NLC).

Since construction of Southern Loop (SL3) will start from Raiwind Road (Adda Plot), it will connect Multan Road at Maraka point. The construction of 8-km SL3 with two interchanges, six lanes dual carriageway and three subways would be completed within one year.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar were also present in the agreement-signing ceremony. LRRA Chairman/Commissioner Saif Anjum and NLC Chief Operating Officer Col Shah Jahan signed the agreement.

The SL3 will be constructed under public-private partnership (PPP) and build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Total land consisting of 3,098 kanals worth Rs4.586 billion has already been acquired. The project cost would be recovered by the contractors in the form of collecting toll from motorists. Construction cost of SL3 is Rs10 billion within a period of 25 years as approved by [PPP] Policy & Monitoring Board in its first meeting.

The SL3 will not only connect distant areas to city’s main junctions but also 34,000 vehicles per day would travel on it.

ARRESTED: A city administration team on Saturday got arrested six people involved in selling injections (Actemra) for Rs250,000 to Rs600,000 in black market.

The team, according to a spokesman, also seized a number of injections from the people.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2020