LAHORE: The completion of the mega Shahkam Chowk flyover project may take one-and-a-half months more, as the Lahore Electric Supply Company and the National Transmission and Despatch Company are not ready to observe off and on power shutdown to make the live high tension wires of 66kV, 132kV and 220kV dead and enable the construction workers and engineers to complete the girder launching and laying the deck slabs and finally carry out the asphalt work.
However, the Sheranwala Gate flyover is likely to be opened for traffic by the end of this week while the work (on ground) - such as road construction and allied jobs - would take almost 15 days to complete, Dawn has learnt.
“The reason behind delay in timely completion of the Shahkam Chowk project is the technical and not the financial, as we were even set to accomplish the scheme before the March deadline. But unfortunately, while the work related to girder launching was under way due to cooperation of the respective public sector organisations - Lesco and NTDC - in the form of power shutdowns, it was stopped after being denied of further power suspension because of Ramazan,” Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahmad Aziz Tarar explained while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.
“If they (the Lesco, NTDC) start observing shutdowns these days for certain hours off and on, there would be no light in the vast area of Punjab, including Lahore,” the DG added, expecting the required shutdowns and resumption of the girder launching work after Eid and completion of the project by June 5.
Lesco’s reluctance to observe shutdown during Ramazan being cited main reason for delay
The work on Shahkam Chowk flyover had been launched on time in July last year. However, the land acquisition (64 kanal) was delayed for some time due to some procedural issues. However, the possession of the entire land was given to the contractor in November last year.
The project total outlay is over Rs4.233 billion reportedly that includes Rs2.5487bn construction cost. The project will end traffic congestion at Shahkam Chowk and save time, energy and money. Till Dec 5, around 55 per cent of work had been completed. Talking about Sheranwala Gate flyover project, the DG hoped the flyover would be opened for traffic within the next couple of days. The Sheranwala project, which started in June last year was also set to be completed by March. But due to some technical and administrative issues, it is yet to be completed. The Rs5bn project included Rs2.634bn construction cost and the rest for the land acquisition. The flyover total length and width with ramps is 1,000 meters and 17 meters, respectively, with 19 spans.
The beneficiary areas of the project include Lahore’s northern parts (railway station, Walled City, Akbari Mandi, Azam Cloth Market, Lunda Bazaar, Badami Bagh, Shadbagh, Misri Shah, GT Road, Shah Alam Market, Data Darbar area, Brandreth Road and Azadi Chowk).
The Rs2bn Gulab Devi Underpass project, started in June/July last year was delayed due to some issues with railways.
“However, most of the issues have been resolved now. And hopefully, we will start the works related to lane marking in the underpass. The entire works would be completed in 15 days or so,” the LDA DG said, adding that the underpass had already been opened for motorists in December last year.
Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2022
