LAHORE: Maulana Shaukat Ali signal-free corridor project is being planned to be extended and connected with the Babu Sabu Interchange to provide a hassle-free drive to motorists (entering the corridor from Qainchi stop on Ferozepur Road) to access the motorway and vice-versa.

If accepted, the proposal to connect motorway with Ferozepur Road through extending the existing 15km long corridor’s route for another three to four kilometre will reduce travel time from one hour to 20 minutes, Dawn has learned.

“The proposal is being worked out seriously since it is very important in view of a considerable reduction in the travel time for the motorists seeking access to motorway from Qainchi (Ferozepur Road) via Maulana Shaukat Ali Road which has been approved to be made signal free,” LDA Director General Ahmad Aziz Tarar told Dawn.

For extension, two routes are being studied. One is from Kharak Stop to Sabzazar Orange Line station on Multan Road along the Kharak drain to the motorway’s Babu Sabu interchange via Kot Kamboh.

Another option is to go along the drain, take a right turn (after about 500 meters) to Sabzazar Scheme, take a left at Liaqat Chowk, take left to touch the motorway via Babu Sabu interchange.

The Punjab government, last month, approved Rs7 billion project for the Maulana Shaukat Ali Road signal-free corridor, connecting the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (Multan Road) with the Metro Bus (Green Line) on the Ferozepur Road (Qainchi stop). The LDA says that the project wouldnot only reduce the travel time from Kharak Stop (Multan Road) to Qainchi (Ferozepur Road) from 45 minutes to 15 minutes but it would also improve the environment in the localities along the road.

Maulana Shaukat Ali Road starts from Kharak Stop (Multan Road) near Sabzazar Orange Line station, leaves Allama Iqbal Town at Karim Block signal by crossing the Wahdat Road and then Canal Road. It goes straight toward the Jinnah Hospital and finally connects with Ferozepur Road (Qainchi Stop) via Shauq Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Model Town Link intersection, Pindi Stop, and Kot Lakhpat.

The road connects various areas, such as Allama Iqbal Town, Punjab University, Faisal Town, Johar Town, BOR Society, Township, Govt Employees Cooperative Housing Society (GECHS), Green Town and Model Town with the Ferozepur Road. It has various traffic congestion points due to traffic signals at Karim Block, Jinnah Hospital, BOR Society, Shauq Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Model Town Link Mor, etc. During the peak hours, the motorists use to get stuck in traffic for hours that also causes environmental pollution, waste of energy, money, and other issues.

The project would have a variety of interventions at various spots, including the construction of underpasses, flyovers, protected U-turns, pedestrian bridges, elevated paths/passages for motorcyclists and footpaths for pedestrians. It will also help the government to get the service roads on both sides of the existing Maulana Shaukat Ali Road from the encroachers (car showroom dealers and other business outlets).

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2021