LAHORE: The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) is set to launch construction of its first mega infrastructural development project -- Kalma Chowk Remodelling Project -- by next month.

The spadework is going apace ahead of the major construction project worth Rs5 billion.

The project, also known as the central business district square, will commence from the Kalma Chowk underpass, separating it from the first underpass access, to the Lahore Central Business District and then another underpass while turning towards Firdaus Market (Ali Zeb Road) from Centre Point. Besides, it will have several allied at-grade (on ground) development works on Gulberg’s main boulevard, and underground sewerage / drainage upgradation.

“This is Lahore’s unique project that will have two underpasses immediately after crossing the Kalma intersection underpass (while heading toward Gulberg from Barkat Market (Garden Town), giving a signal-free access to the motorists to the CBD project area including Walton and Ali Zeb Road to move toward Firdaus Market and enter Cavalary Ground via Lal Shahbaz Qlanadar underpass.

“With the completion of the project, the Gulberg main boulevard will be completely a signal-free corridor from Centre Point to Siddique Trade Centre and then the entire Jail Road till Qartaba Chowk / Mozang,” an official source in the Punjab government explained to Dawn.

“Construction of a CBD boulevard is also part of the project,” he added.

The project aims to construct underpasses at Kalma Chowk to allow seamless entry / exit into the CBD at Walton while avoiding disruption to the existing traffic in the vicinity. The project’s two-lane underpass-1 turning toward Ali Zeb Road from Centre Point measuring 632 meters will have two barrels (38 feet wide each) and 5.1 meter vertical clearance (around 17 feet, fit for all light and heavy transport passing). The second underpass (from Barkat Market to CBD area at Walton) will be of 285 meters having two barrels (each of 35 feet width with around 17 feet vertical clearance).

The total cost of the project (over Rs4.947 billion), which will be completed within a period of 10 months, has been made in the light of the second biannual (2022) market rates system (MRS). The rates of the items, which are available in the MRS, have been used in the estimates. And for the items not available in the MRS, rate analysis has been devised based upon the MR templates using the input rates available with the finance department.

According to a spokesman for the PCBDDA, the technical team of the authority also held a meeting with the Lahore Traffic Police to finalise the traffic diversion plan during the construction of CBD Boulevard and remodelling of the Kalma Chowk underpass. The meeting was attended by PCBDDA’s Executive Director (Technical) Mr Riaz Hussain, Director Project Management Mr Asif Iqbal, Lahore Traffic Police SP Mr Asif Sadiq, DSPs Muneer Hashmi, Rashid Hayat, Azam Chohan and Akhlaq Ahmed.

The PCBDDA team explained the diversion plan during the construction of CBD Boulevard. It told the police officers that in the first phase of construction, one side of the main boulevard would be open for traffic coming from Barkat Market and going toward Liberty Market. The service lane would be operational for traffic coming from Firdaus Market (Ali Zeb Road) for Barkat Market and Ferozepur Road.

The traffic coming from Model Town toward Liberty would be diverted from Gaddafi Stadium. A clear passage was also suggested in the plan for the residents of Falcon Society. “The traffic police officers agreed with the traffic diversion plan with some minor changes. Moreover, we will keep the people updated about the changes in the plan if there is any development work,” said the spokesman in a statement.

He said the project would be an amenity for the residents of Lahore. And the authority had ensured the safety, comfort and hassle-free travel for commuters during the construction phases, he added.

The PCBDDA is developing a downtown in the heart of the city near Kalma Chowk with the construction of high-rises including some housing areas in vertical growth. In August last, the LCBDDA was renamed the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) as the scope of work was expanded across the province. The authority was formed in February 2021 through an ordinance to establish a business district in Gulberg.

With an expanded scope of work, the PCBDDA has been mandated to work in various cities such as Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan and Rawalpindi, and boost the economic activities for the development of the province.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2022