LAHORE: The Samanabad Underpass, which will cost Rs2.033 billion to complete, will now be completed in April instead of June, allowing for the project’s full public opening on April 30.

As a result of the inconvenience people of Samanabad, Gulshan-i-Ravi, and the surrounding areas have experienced, the Punjab government has decided to shorten the project’s completion deadline.

The construction work was launched on Dec 15.

According to LDA Chief Engineer (II) Mazhar Hussain Khan, “At this time, one-fourth of the piling work has been done, and the other works have also been planned to be completed.”

“The caretaker administration pushed back the project’s completion schedule to April 30 and quickened the speed of construction. Previously, September 30 was also changed to June 30,” he said.

The project will contribute to reducing environment pollution because a large population in Samanabad, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Tauheed Park, Multan Road, Chauburji, Yateem Khana, and neighbouring areas will be the primary beneficiaries in terms of crossing Multan Road from Samanabad Morr to enter Samanabad and Gulshan Ravi, accessing Multan Road from both directions, and passing the same point on Multan Road signal-free while travelling toward Chauburji and Gulshan Ravi.

The 5.1-metre high, 400-metre-long underpass will allow light and heavy freight to pass through with ease. The dual road (four lanes) would have 712 piles (foundations, retaining walls, etc.).

The project also involves the widening of roads turning toward Multan Road (Chauburji and Thokar) from Gulshan-i-Ravi and Samanabad.

It will cause the shifting of utilities and services, including Wasa (drainage pipeline), electrical (poles, wires, etc.), PTCL, and gas.

According to the project, yearly fuel savings costs, vehicle running costs, and travel time savings will be Rs45.34 million, Rs68.63 million, and Rs35.80 million. With the installation of the 205 piles, the relocation of utility services, and the works delegated to other civic authorities, 25 percent of the project has already been done, according to the official, who predicted that the project would be finished by April 30.

LDA Director General Aamir Ahmad Khan, following the new deadline fixed by caretaker chief minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, paid a visit to the project site on Friday.

He asked officers to complete the project by the deadline. “All resources should be utilized to achieve the task by working around the clock,” he added. He reviewed the ongoing construction work and stated that no delay would be tolerated.

“For early completion of the project, sewerage, water supply, and transfer of electricity poles should be completed on a priority basis,” he said.

“There will also be no compromise on the quality of the construction work,” he added. He said Tepa should work with the traffic police to devise an effective traffic management plan to save the citizens valuable time. He directed the labourers working on the project to strictly follow all safety measures and SOPs.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2023