LAHORE: In a bid to open one side of the Rs5 billion Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project from Feb 15 ahead of the PSL cricket matches starting in Lahore, the pace of ongoing construction work has been accelerated, paving the way to open the entire scheme, except some allied works, for traffic by the end of next month.

The construction has been geared up with deployment of additional labour to continue work round the clock after the caretaker Punjab government took notice of the traffic congestion and hurdles in the public mobility these days and the upcoming PSL matches starting from Feb 26.

Caretaker minister for communication & works and the excise & taxation Bilal Afzal has also been assigned a special task by chief minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi to monitor progress of the project on a daily basis, Dawn has learnt.

“As desired by the CM, we have been asked to make one side (from Barkat Market/Garden Town to Gulberg main boulevard /liberty roundabout) of the Kalma Chowk underpass operational till Feb 15 by all means with deployment of additional labour ensuring construction work round the clock. Therefore, we have fully focused on this and will make the aforementioned lane motorable,” Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) Executive Director (Technical)/Project Director Engineer Riaz Hussain told Dawn on Saturday.

Work expedited in view of PSL matches starting on 26th

“We will make compliance of the orders surely by opening it on Feb 15 ahead of PSL matches starting from 26th,” Mr Hussain pledged.

Talking about the current status of other works, the PCBDDA’s official said at present various works related to piles, excavation of the tunnel/underpass, originating from the existing Kalma Chowk underpass, turning right from here, entering other side (formerly nursery area /old Walton airport area and ending at the PCBDDA project site (CBD Boulevard), is underway.

According to him, 60 per cent of work on the first lintel of this tunnel has been completed. And after its completion fully, the rigid pavement, laying of base, sub-base, asphalt and other work will start that will be completed by 15th in a bid to pass on the traffic coming from Barkat Market and entering Gulberg.

“As soon as we complete works as per the [Feb 15] deadline, we will move towards going for the lintel-related works for the remaining portion amid excavation of this tunnel for which we will have to close other side of the road (from Gulberg to Barkat Market) via Kalma Chowk underpass. Side by side we will also start the same works at the Centre Point where a second underpass is planned to be constructed for which the pile works are underway at the moment,” he maintained.

“These two points (tunnel/underpass for entering the CBD area and the Centre Point underpass will also be opened for traffic by the end of next month - hopefully till March 23 deadline,” he said.

It merits mentioning that the PCBDDA had formally launched construction of the project in the second week of November after the then chief minister Parvez Elahi laid the foundation stone on Oct 30 at a ceremony.

The project, also known as the central business district square as well as the CBD Boulevard, commences from the Kalma Chowk underpass, separating it from the first underpass access, to the PCBDDA project area and then another underpass while turning towards Firdaus Market (Ali Zeb Road) from Centre Point. Besides, it has several allied at-grade (on ground) development works on Gulberg’s main boulevard, and underground sewerage/drainage upgrade.

The mega scheme is said to be unique of its kind 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 Qalandar 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.

The project aims at constructing underpasses at Kalma Chowk to allow seamless entry/exit into the CBD at Walton while avoiding disruption to the existing traffic in the vicinity. Its 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).

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) 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.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2023