LAHORE: Completion of two major projects — Lahore Bridge Expansion (Qainchi Flyover) and Gulshan-i-Ravi/Samanabad underpass –– has been delayed further till June 15, the new deadline fixed by the government to open both the schemes.

The earlier deadline for both the projects was May 31 but the contractors missed it just like the deadlines before that.

“We have now become used to inhaling dust caused by the construction of this project, vehicular smoke and noise pollution. We request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to get this project completed,” says a resident of a locality near the Lahore Bridge Expansion Project.

“The people are suffering from cough and allergy due to dust and smoke,” he adds.

New deadline is 15th; source says Gulshan-i-Ravi underpass may miss deadline once again

An officer associated with the project who requested not be named is of the view that the pace of work during the last couple of months has been accelerated.

“At the moment, the entire structure work has been completed, enabling us further to start the asphalt work within the next few days. Hopefully, we will open the project within a week or so,” he maintains.

An LDA spokesman also claims that the project will be opened for traffic on June 15 as per the new deadline.

“The earlier deadline fixed by the premier Shaehbaz Sharif was May 31,” he adds.

On the other hand, the Gulshan Ravi––Samanabad underpass project is also facing a delay as it also missed its last deadline of May 31. The project’s actual deadline was April 30.

The delay in this project has also become a nuisance for the public, especially those living near Samanabad Mor—a major point connecting both Gulshan-i-Ravi and Samanabad localities.

“The delay in the project has become a great headache to us as it is leading to environmental and traffic issues,” says a resident of Gulshan-i-Ravi. He has appealed to PM Shehbaz Sharif to personally visit the project site to get this scheme completed as soon as possible.

“We have heard that the project will be opened for traffic on June 15,” he adds.

An official source engaged with the project claims that the project’s contractual completion date is Sept 30. “But the government gave us the target to complete it by April 30 and then May 31. Now the new target to complete this project is June 15. But we may not be able to complete it by then. We will surely open the underpass for traffic on June 25, before Eidul Adha,” the official, requesting anonymity, explains.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2023