LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of the first two-storey underpass in the country to be built at Barkat Market near Garden town to ease traffic flow in the area and help save fuel and time of the commuters.

In his address on the occasion, Mr Naqvi said the first of its kind underpass in the country will be named after legendary wrestler Rustam-i-Zaman Gama Pehlwan, says a handout.

He said the 700meter-long level-I of the underpass would be built from the Barkat Market up to the Canal Road, while the1.4km-long level-II will be from the Jinnah Hospital up to the Barkat Market. A U-turn will be built at Bhekewal Mor and another at the Canal Road, he added.

The CM said that the underpass would ease the traffic flow towards Barkat Market, Canal Road, Jinnah Hospital and Iqbal Town.

He said though the stipulated time for the completion of this project is six months, but hopefully this would be completed earlier.

“I want this project to be completed within 3-4 months so that the people can enjoy the fruits of this mega project soon,” he said.

Mr Naqvi said that the construction of this underpass would result in saving fuel and time of the commuters, besides elimination of traffic congestion in the area.

On the occasion, Nasir Bholo, grandson of Gamma Pehalwan, presented a traditional turban to Mr Naqvi.

In a briefing to the chief minister, Central Business District (CBD) CEO Imran Amin said the area had a huge traffic problem which necessitated the underpass project designed by Nespak.

Mentioning other projects launched by the caretaker government, the CM said that C&W department was constructing a new road for providing an easy access to the Mazar Bibi Pak Daman from the Edgerton Road, while work on the Bund Road is also being completed fast.

He said the Lahore Development Authority is upgrading the labs of Services Hospital and the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), which will soon be inaugurated. The labs of government hospitals would be far better than any private labs, he claimed.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024