LAHORE: Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (Tepa) on Friday launched civil work to beautify nine underpasses on the Canal Road under phase-1.

The work is a part of the government’s plan to beautify underpasses, intersections, spaces, and under and overhead bridges, etc. However, Tepa has initially been assigned the task to beautify the underpasses.

Under phase-1, the under passes of Doctors Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, New Campus, Muslim Town, Ferozepur Road, FC College, Jail Road, The Mall and Dharampura, would be renovated. These underpasses are now named after Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, Chaakar-e-Azam Rind, Khushhal Khan Khattak (Later renamed as Waris Mir and Kashmir underpass), Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Khan Liaqat Ali Khan, Justice A R Cornelius, Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah and Hussain Shaheed Suharwardi underpasses would be beautified. The beautification works include improvement the underpasses’ facade, ceilings, paintwork, lighting, etc.

Tepa Chief Engineer Iqrar Hussain told Dawn Rs300 million had been allocated for beautification of both sides of the nine underpasses.

Most underpasses on Canal Road had been reconstructed by the communication and works department, Punjab. However, LDA and Tepa also constructed Jinnah Hospital and Beijing and Jail Road underpasses.

“The other beautification works are being done under Dilkash Lahore Project on the Mall separately by other departments,” the Tepa chief engineer said.

He said though some beautification works were also carried out at underpasses, but these were not carried out properly under a comprehensive plan.

“The commissioner sought a detailed proposal in this regard sometimes ago. And after review, the proposal to beautify nine underpasses under phase-1 was approved by the commissioner, who also heads the LDA as director general,” he said, adding if the government gives more underpasses in future, Tepa would also do work in this regard.

Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa also paid a visit to the city underpasses where he opened construction work at some spots. “The renovation work of the underpasses of Lahore Canal Road must be completed within six weeks from Chaudhry Rehmat Ali to Shaheed Suhrawardy Underpasses. Work should be done on both sides,” he said. He said advertising boards should also be installed on underpasses. The details of the outstanding achievements of the personalities named after the underpasses should be displayed.

OPERATIONS: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) teams detected widespread electricity theft in various localities of the provincial capital during their ongoing anti-theft campaign.

According to a company spokesperson, the team caught power theft in a pizza shop, Pizza Test, located in PIA Society. The power was being supplied through illegal hooking, which was used to run two pizza ovens, each with a capacity of 5,000 watts, and two air conditioners.

The team confiscated the three-phase meter installed at the location and registered a case against the accused with the local police.

Another inspection team identified electricity pilferage in a multi-storey building located in the Durand Road area of Davis Road Sub-Division. No power meters were installed in the building, and the accused were stealing electricity by illegally tapping into the power transmission line. Five air conditioners were operating on stolen electricity. The accused were charged with a detection bill of 9,500 units, and a police case was registered in this regard.

The spokesperson also mentioned that the Journalist Colony sub-division uncovered electricity theft in Al-Rushd Plaza in Rehman Housing Society. The electricity theft was facilitated by illegal hooking into a direct supply line, and two fake meters were installed at the location. Both meters at Al-Rushd Plaza were disconnected, and the owners were billed for 8,000 units as a detection fee.

Cases related to these incidents were also filed at the local police station. The owners were listed as defaulters and owed Rs133,752 and Rs160,632 for each connection.

WASA: The Water and Sanitation Agency has requested the registration of FIRs against all individuals involved in the installation of illegal water and sewerage connections in the city, whether they are associated with Wasa or are private individuals, according to a spokesperson.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2023