GUJRAT: Work on Servis Mor flyover has resumed after the gap of almost two years as the Punjab government approved revision of the project. However, its cost has now doubled due to the delay as well as a change in its design.

The initial estimated cost of the flyover was Rs1.2bn, which has now climbed up to Rs2.46bn as per the administrative approval given by the Communication and Works Department, a copy available with Dawn.

As per the previous design, the flyover started from Servis Mor and connected to the industrial area (phase 2) link road but it had no access to the GT Road bypass.

But with the change in the design, a cloverleaf has now been given along the bypass towards Islamabad whereas the flyover’s connection with the industrial link road still exists, said an official of the highways department while talking to Dawn.

However, he said due to some technical issues, the flyover could not be connected towards Lahore side of the bypass.

The execution of project was launched in 2022 when Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was the chief minister but soon after the dissolution of Punjab Assembly in January 2023, the work was stopped, funds were blocked and a scrutiny of the project was launched by various departments.

A senior official said Rs800m had been demanded for the allocation in the current fiscal year for the flyover out of which Rs400m were to be released as only Rs70m had been allocated in the current budget. So far a sum of Rs1.1bn has already been spent on it and the contractor firm had restarted construction at the site. Hopefully, the project would be completed within the current year.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024