LAHORE: The newly-constructed Sheranwala Gate flyover has been opened to traffic, easing mobility of the people crossing the area to reach Ravi Road.

However, the allied works, including construction of a road with protected U-turns, slip roads, concrete pavement, shifting of utility services etc., may take around two months to complete, Dawn has learnt.

“We have completed the flyover and opened it for traffic that was a major obstacle to initiate and complete minor and major at-grade construction works under or along both sides of the flyover. By June 30, we will complete these works also,” LDA’s Project Director Mr Iqrar Ahmad told Dawn when contacted.

The construction work on the Rs5bn Sheranwala gate project had been launched in June last year and was set to be completed on March 18. However, various issues such as delay in land acquisition at tyre market and other areas affected the pace of work on the project. The Rs5bn project cost included Rs2.634bn for construction and the rest for the land acquisition. The beneficiary areas of the project include Lahore’s northern parts (railway station, Walled City, Akbari Mandi, Azam Cloth Market, Lunda Bazaar, Badami Bagh, Shadbagh, Misri Shah, GT Road, Shah Alam Market, Data Darbar area, Brandreth Road and Azadi Chowk).

Allied works, shifting of utility services may take around two months to complete

According to project brief, the mega scheme will ease passing of 130,000 vehicles per day besides controlling environmental pollution caused by dust or the vehicle remissions.

The four-lane flyover’s total length and width with ramps is 1,000 meters and 17 meters, respectively, with 19 spans. The construction of flyover involved 189 piles, 20 piles caps, 18 piers, two abutments, laying 19 deck slabs, new sewerage lines (2500 meters with 36 inch diameter pipes), retaining walls, demolition of built-up structures after land acquisition etc.

The project is said to save Rs86 million, Rs163m and Rs184m as annual fuel cost, vehicle operating cost and travel time saving, respectively. The major at-grade works include construction of a two-lane carriageway having width of 7.3 meter (both sides).

“We were set to complete the flyover in January this year. But we couldn’t do so due to delay in handing over of the land to us acquired by the government at tyre market. Moreover, the at-grade works were not possible to be completed till completion of the flyover,” an official source argued while talking to Dawn on Monday.

“The shifting of services (Sui gas, electricity, sewerage) from one place to the place was also another issue,” the official said, terming the plan a tricky project of Lahore. “Hopefully we will complete the entire at-grade works before June 30,” he added.

On the other hand, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), on the request of LDA, will observe power shutdown after Eid in a bid to make the extra high voltage transmission lines (66kV, 132kV and 220kV) dead, enabling the construction workers and engineers to easily lay girders, deck slabs through cranes for the completion of Shahkam Chowk flyover without any fear of electrocution and other incidents.

“Since it was not possible for Lesco to observe shutdown during Ramazan with a view to supplying electricity to consumers uninterruptedly, the company, on the LDA’s request, has agreed to observe power suspension in the project areas. Soon they will share shutdown schedule with us,” another official told this reporter.

It may be mentioned that work on this project had been launched on-time in July last year. However, the land acquisition (64 kanal) was delayed for some time due to procedural issues. The possession of the entire land was given to the contractor in November last year. The project total outlay is over Rs4.233 billion reportedly that includes Rs2.5487bn construction cost. The project will end traffic congestion at Shahkam Chowk and save time, energy and money.

Published in Dawn,May 3rd, 2022