LAHORE, Feb 26: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will lay the foundation stone of a flyover and an underpass at Kalma Chowk within next 10 days.

Presided over by the chief minister on Saturday, a meeting decided that comprising three lanes on its each side, the flyover would be constructed at Ferozepur Road while the underpass at the Gulberg’s Main Boulevard.

Sharif on the occasion also directed the officers concerned to gear up the pace of work on Multan Road and complete the project at the earliest utilising all possible resources.

He said because of traffic mess at Kalma Chowk, motorists have to face enormous difficulties and precious time of commuters, including students and patients, was wasted. Quoting estimates, he said around 400,000 vehicles passed daily from Kalma Chowk which often created traffic problems there.

He said Kalma Chowk project design should be excellent while the flyover might be made attractive through horticulture.

Provision of the best traffic facilities to people was a priority for the Punjab government, he said, adding that completion of projects like Lahore Ring Road, Shalimar and Saggian interchange in a transparent manner was an examples in this respect.

Earlier, communication and works secretary and NESPAK engineers gave a detailed briefing to the meeting with regard to estimates and the flyover-underpass project. They said traffic diversions would be provided during the construction of flyover and underpass in order to save commuters from inconvenience.

Lahore Commissioner Nadeem Hasan Asif informed the meeting that work on widening of Bhatta Chowk had been started and would be complete soon.

Meanwhile, the commissioner approved five development schemes in the public health sector at Kasur, Sharaqpur and Lahore.

Under an approved scheme, a trauma centre and a residential complex would be constructed at Kasur at a cost of Rs75 million. A water supply scheme was also approved for the city.

Similarly, a tehsil complex would be constructed at Sharaqpur to house offices of various government departments.

The drain passing between the Services Hospital and the Punjab Institute of Mental Health would also be covered under the plan.