LAHORE: The main carriageway of the controlled access corridor project’s Package-I (Bund Road) opened for light traffic on Friday after the caretaker chief minister inaugurated it along with senior officials concerned.

The project’s Package-2 is also expected to be completed within the next 15 days, as the pace of work has been accelerated.

“Execution of the project was a mega-difficult task that seemed impossible to complete. But the LDA DG, chief engineer, engineers, and contractors worked hard and made it possible,” Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told the ceremony.

“I also appreciate the planning and development, finance, and housing departments for giving full support in completing this package within a short time,” he said.

The 7.3km long project consists of two packages. Under Package-I, which is 3.65 km long, the existing Bund Road has been raised up to 13 feet from Niazi Interchange to Saggian. It is a four-lane dual carriageway (two lanes on each side) having four vehicular and pedestrian subways. Package-I has two-lane service lanes on each side on both sides dedicated to those intending to move to nearby localities from various originating points. However, no one riding cycles, donkey carts, motorcycles, rickshaws, etc., is allowed to access the main corridor.

The total cost of the project is Rs10.8 billion, which includes the cost of Package-I as Rs5.2bn and Package-II worth Rs6.1bn. Package-II starts from Saggian and ends at Babu Sabu, having five subways. The other specifications of Package-2 are the same as those of Package-I.

“The project, as per a study, would facilitate 130,000 vehicles in accessing a hassle-free drive on the 7.3 km long four-lane corridor. It will also decrease environmental pollution, save time, energy, and millions of rupees in fuel costs.

“The project will give a hassle-free access to light and heavy transport entering or exiting the city and the motorists of several localities along Bund Road, including Gulshan Ravi, to move to various parts of the city or going out of the town,” an official source closely engaged in the project construction told Dawn when contacted.

Requesting anonymity, he said Package-1 of the project would not be opened for heavy traffic until completion of Package-2. According to him, the contractors are busy completing the service roads along the controlled access corridor and the roads meant for entering the city from Saggian interchange.

“Hope these allied works will be completed within a week or so. Similarly, the main carriageway of Package-2 will take around 15 days to complete and open for light traffic,” he maintained. He termed the project a most difficult task, as it involved massive earth-filling to raise the carriageway bed to the required height of 13-feet.

WASTE DUMPING: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has intensified efforts across the city to curb illegal dumping of waste and garbage burning. Over the past 15 days, according to a spokesman, the teams have issued more than 190 challans, imposing fines of Rs400,000 for illegal dumping.

“As many as 83 FIRs have also been registered against individuals involved in setting garbage on fire and engaging in illegal dumping practices. Five rickshaws used for illegal dumping have also been impounded,” the spokesman said in a press release. Since the crackdown targets perpetrators responsible for igniting garbage fires and engaging in unlawful dumping activities, more than 900 warning notices were also issued for breaching the Local Government Act.

LESCO: A Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) team detected power theft on Friday at a marble factory on College Road (Township). According to a spokesman, the team imposed a fine of Rs1 million, besides moving for the registration of a case against the factory owner.

The company has so far detected 53,285 connections from where customers were pilfering electricity in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, and Okara. Up to 49,092 FIRs have been registered by respective police stations, while 17,554 accused have been arrested so far.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024