LAHORE: The Manawan (degree college)-Harbanspura-Ring Road project will be completed by the end of next month.

The Rs182.219 million project has been pending for a long time despite growing traffic congestion and pollution.

“We got it initiated in the best public interest,” LDA Vice Chairman Naeemul Haq said while inspecting various city projects.

While inaugurating the Nayal Pul-Fateh Garh Road Rehabilitation project, he directed the officials to focus on the completion of sports complex projects, especially the Tajpura and Manawn sports complexes.

He was also briefed by the LDA officers on the ongoing pace of work on other sports complex projects, Shahkam Chowk flyover, Saggian and other road infrastructure improvement projects. “You must ensure quality while implementing all city projects,” he said.

Also, an LDA team, led by Model Town assistant commissioner Sonia Sadaf, launched a major operation in Garden Town and retrieved 18 plots of 10 marla (each) from the land grabbers.

TRANSPORT: A joint working group (JWG), consisting of inter-city bus transport companies, ride-sharing services and government officials overseeing the transport sector was formed to resolve obstacles in the way of an efficient and cost-effective public transport system in Punjab.

The group was formed during a follow-up meeting of public-private dialogue, organised by the PBIT and presided over by Chairman PBIT Fazeel Asif Jah. The participants included the representatives of Skyways, Daewoo, Faisal Movers, Uber/Careem, SWVL and others, while senior government representatives, including the secretary of the Provincial Transport Authority, additional secretary of the Transport Department, Mass Transit Authority and Punjab Transport Company were also present.

Major issues brought forward by the transporters included granting the industry status to the transport sector, expediting the route approvals and permits for the inter-city bus operators, bus number plate registrations and establishment of bus stands in various cities. Emerging topics, such as launching electric buses for environmental sustainability and recommendations for operating them were also deliberated.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2022