LDA starts model roads’ survey

The project, dropped in 2009, re-initiated after cost revision

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Saturday launched a comprehensive pictorial survey of the nine thoroughfares declared model roads.

The staff of LDA’s Engineering Branch and a team of photographers and moviemakers kick-started the survey after dawn.

The roads include Maulana Shaukat Ali Road (from Canal Road to the Roundabout), Peco Road (from railway crossing to Kot Lakhpat), Model Town Link Road, Main Boulevard of Johar Town (from Shoak Chowk to Shaukat Khanum Hospital), Wahadat Road (from Muslim Town Mor to Chungi Multan Road), Main Boulevard of Allama Iqbal Town (from Bhekewal Mor to Scheme Mor), Main Boulevard of Samanabad (from Samanabad Mor to second roundabout in New Mozang), Main Boulevard of Gulshane Ravi (from Samanabad Mor to Bund Road) and the road from Kalma Chowk to Jinnah Hospital.

An LDA official told The Express Tribune that the employees concerned were called in at a short notice on August 20 to the Egerton Road head office. They were directed to start the survey after Sehr on Saturday, mapping all residential and commercial buildings, encroachments and other infrastructure along the nine roads. He said that the LDA also hired some private photographers to help with the survey.

The LDA has constituted nine teams, each working on one of the nine model roads.

A senior Engineering Branch official said that the project was dropped in 2009 due to lack of funds.

The authority estimated that the design of the Allama Iqbal Town Main Boulevard alone would cost Rs40 million. He said that at the Lahore commissioner, Khusru Pervaiz’s directive, the cost estimate was revised.

The LDA has appointed Shahid Farid, the administration director, as the project director for Main Boulevard of Allama Iqbal Town, Mansoor Qadir as the project director for Main Boulevard of Johar Town and Sardar Akbar Nakai, the director (Estate Management) as project director for Main Boulevard of Samanabad. Project directors for the remaining roads have yet to be appointed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2010.