LAHORE:
The Lahore Development Authority’s governing body approved Rs33.54 billion annual budget for LDA, the Water and Sanitation Authority and the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency, on Tuesday. Rs22 billion has been earmarked for development projects.
The budget is usually approved in July, but officials said that it was delayed because Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, chairman of the LDA, had political engagements.
The budget is the largest approved so far as it considers the LDA’s expansion of jurisdiction into Nanakana Sahib, Kasur and Sheikhupura through the LDA Act 2013.
Urban Development Wing
The Urban Development Wing is expected to generate Rs13.32 billion during 2014-2015 against Rs13.21 billion expenditures.
The total development expenditure for the wing is Rs11.19 billion. According to the budget, Rs1.93 billion will be spent on development projects in LDA housing schemes. Rs1.67 billion will be spent on under-construction development schemes.
The budget has marked Rs4.16 billion for new projects – Rs1.16 billion for contribution in public-private participation projects and Rs2.94 billion for other projects.
According to the budget, the LDA will spend Rs700 million on the construction of missing links on structure plan roads. Repairs to the Southern Bypass carriageway from Thokar Niaz Beg to Ameer Chowk will be carried out at a cost of Rs140 million. The construction of signal-free corridors on Jail Road, Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam and Main Boulevard, Gulberg, is expected to cost Rs1.5 billion. Construction of pedestrian bridges at signal-free corridors are expected to cost Rs150 million.
Rs150 million will be spent on the construction of a two-lane dual carriageway from Ferozepur Road to Jinnah Flyover along the railway track. Rs200 million has been earmarked for priority works in the new budget.
Rs1.16 billion has been allocated for development schemes under public-private partnership. The LDA has reserved Rs500 million as its share in the construction of the Hussain Chowk Flyover, Rs360 million for the Defence Road Flyover, Rs100 million for Sharaqpur Bypass, Rs100 million for the Kala Shah Kaku Expressway and Rs100 for the Southern Bypass.
Rs1.38 billion has been reserved for other development schemes. Rs1.22 billion will be spent on constructing a dual carriage road from LOS Stop to Multan Road. Restoration of LDA Plaza, till the sixth floor, is expected to cost Rs240m.
TEPA
A budget of Rs6.16 billion has been earmarked against TEPA’s expected expenditures of Rs5.43 billion. Rs5.16 billion has been reserved for development work. A link connecting Motorway at Shahpur Kanjra to Raiwind Road and Khayaban-i-Jinnah will be constructed at a cost of Rs1.22 billion. The construction of Kasur Bypass, connecting Ferozepur Road to Depalpur Road, is expected to cost Rs890 million. Rs270 million has been set aside for the construction of Kasur Sports Complex. The construction of hockey stadiums at Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib is expected to cost Rs147 million each. Rs6.3 million will be spent on ongoing projects.
WASA
WASA is expecting to earn Rs14.05 billion in the current financial year and will spend Rs14.89 billion. Rs5.63 billion has been set aside for development schemes. The replacement of depleted water supply lines in various localities of the city will cost Rs8oo million; and installation of 13 new tube-wells will cost Rs180 million. According to the budget, Rs440 million will be spent on installing 100 water filtration plants in the city. The improvement of the water supply system in MA Johar Town and Tajpura is expected to cost Rs1.6 billion. The construction of RCC Conduit Sewer from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Chowk to Sattu Katla Drain is expected to cost Rs800 million. Laying sewer lines, constructing drains and a disposal station for the Niaz Beg Drainage System is expected to cost Rs1.5 billion
The LDA generates income through commercialisation, approval of private housing schemes, penalties on violation of building laws, building plans and auction of plots. In 2013-2014, LDA generated Rs3.28 billion against a target of Rs3 billion. This year, LDA set a target for Rs5 billion. It plans to generate Rs1 billion from Nanakana, Kasur and Sheikhupura each through commercialisation fees.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (3)
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What has CM to do with an autonomous body like LDA. It has a fulltime Chairman.It is such interference that has destroyed Lahore but the Sharif Family property. Similar political nose poking has destroyed the rest of the countryside development. Recent Floods have highlighted this and the 70% population was made to suffer to save 30% of population. Unless this curse is removed we will continue to suffer barring the Politicians of all kinds and waderas .
@huma: LDA Avenue 1 failed because of personal interests of authorities and politicians. If LDA schemes are good enough, why would people invest elsewhere? Moreover, Avenue 1 plots should begin at 65. Anything above is plain scam/rip off unless corner, 60 feet road or on main boulevard. Real estate has three rules. Location, location and location.
what Lahore needs is affordable housing for middle class than these grandiose projects. Planned societies having 3-5 marla plots on the pattern of Township society are the need of the hour. Not many people can afford a plot in LDA avenue as they begin from 80 lacs. The results is organic growth of slums such as mominpura etc.