LAHORE, May 20: As the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is set to start demolition of its plaza, the officials are likely to take at least two months in pulling down three floors (7 to 9).

After the May 9 blaze, five floors (5 to 9) have been declared vulnerable in the light of various building stability tests (BSTs). Floor 5 and 6 will also be razed.

Officials say though the engineering experts of LDA and others have yet to prepare various technical and financial proposals for reconstruction/rehabilitation work, they are currently busy in getting necessary installations and burnt articles removed in order to launch demolition.

“The demolition of plaza is not an easy task as it may take two to three months at least. Since the plaza is situated at a busy place (Egerton Road), the officials would have to be careful to continue the public mobility and save adjacent buildings and plaza’s remaining floors (right from basement to 4th floor),” an official told Dawn on Monday.

Asked about reconstruction, the official said the LDA administration was yet to decide whether to reconstruct the damaged floors with old or new design or limit the floors up to four in addition to the basement that were still intact and could be used.

Talking about important record burnt in the fire incident, the official said: “The major data relating to admin and finance is computerised and it can be recovered and reproduced through electronic mails and banks etc. The law department’s record can be obtained from courts. And rest of the record can be prepared again.”

He said a team, led by the communication and works secretary, was working out damage.

He said though the entire LDA offices had been shifted to its Johar Town complex, staffers were in trouble because of lack of rooms and offices there. “Many officials have got offices there and some are waiting for the same. There is also a proposal to shift some offices to the old LDA plaza on Court Road.”

Another official said after completing demolition, the rest of the buildings’ floors, basement and foundation would be rechecked through some engineering tests in order to assess the structure’s strength for reconstruction.

AUCTION: The LDA will hold an open auction of its 21 commercial plots on May 22 (tomorrow) at 10am at its Community Centre (New Muslim Town).

These plots are situated at prime locations on Main Jail Road, Shadman, Township and Gujjarpura schemes, according to a press release on Monday.

The interested parties shall have to deposit earnest money (refundable) for each plot in the form of cash/bank draft/pay order in favour of LDA director general before the commencement of auction, with the booth of National Bank established on the spot.

The highest bidder shall have to deposit one-third cost of the plot after the closing of auction or within seven days of auction, failing which the earnest money shall be forfeited in favour of LDA.