LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) administration on Tuesday directed the engineers concerned to complete and open the phase-2 of the controlled access Babu Sabu-Niazi Chowk/Interchange scheme (also known as Bund Road Project) for the people till July 31 — a deadline set by the chief minister.

“There is a need to accelerate pace of construction work after passing of Youm-i-Ashur by deploying additional workforce, machinery etc,” LDA Director General Tahir Farooq directed the engineering officials during his visit to the project site along with other officers of the LDA administration.

On this occasion, the DG was briefed about various ongoing construction jobs at the project (phase-2) site. He was told that works on service roads on both sides of the elevated corridor (from Niaz Chowk to Gulshan-i-Ravi Morr / Intersection) is underway. From Babu Sabu to Gulshan-i-Ravi, the service road will consist of three lanes. However, on the other side (Gulshan-i-Ravi to Babu Sabu), the road will consist of 1.5 lanes. And after completing service lanes (3 and 1.5 lanes on both sides), the project be opened keeping in view the severe mobility issues being faced by the residents of various localities including Gulshan-i-Ravi.

The project’s elevated portion (both package-1 and 2) has already been completed.

It may be mentioned that the work on the project had been launched in the third quarter of 2022 to resolve issues related to Bund Road’s dilapidated condition, traffic congestion, and pollution.

After various studies, the government decided to rehabilitate this major outer artery using innovative approaches. Initially, three options were considered for the project titled ‘Rehabilitation of Bund Road from Babu Sabu Interchange to Ring Road along with improvement at Gulshan-i-Ravi T-Junction’. But later, the design of the project and its scope were reviewed and finalised again with increased height of the main expressway along with other facilities. Finally, in September, the then-caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi laid the foundation stone of the project that restricted mobility of local traffic, including motorcycles, bicycles, cars, and rickshaws on the main elevated corridor by providing them with a separate two-lane expressway on each side with the provision of subways to move towards Babu Sabu or Niazi Chowk or the nearby localities instead of using the Bund Road, which is part of the ring road.

The project has already faced delay which resulted in increase in its cost.

LESCO: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) recovered more than Rs3.28 million from 46 dead defaulters in five districts -- Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Okara -- on the 256th day of its recovery campaign.

According to a spokesman, the Northern Circle superintending engineer recovered outstanding dues of Rs0.75m from nine defaulters; Eastern Circle SE recovered Rs0.28m from four defaulters; Central Circle SE recovered Rs0.58m from eight defaulters; South Circle SE collected Rs0.03m from one defaulter; Nankana Circle SE recovered Rs0.59m from eight defaulters; Sheikhupura Circle SE recovered Rs0.31m from six defaulters; Okara Circle SE collected Rs0.25m from five defaulters and Kasur Circle SE recovered Rs0.49m from five defaulters.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024