Shaukat Khanum Flyover to see light of day

An official working on the project said that it was delayed mainly due to financial constraints

LAHORE:  

After a prolonged delay, the Shaukat Khanum Flyover is expected to open for traffic by next week, The Express Tribune learnt on Thursday.

Initially, it was announced that the project would be completed by May 2018. Later, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) fixed July 2018 as the deadline for the project’s completion. However, LDA Director General Amna Imran visited the project site to inspect the pace and quality of development works. At the time, he announced the project would be completed by August 25. She directed officials to increase the pace of development, but the project also missed this revised deadline.

An official working on the project disclosed that it was mainly delayed due to financial constraints. He highlighted contractors' payments, worth of millions of rupees, had been stuck thanks to General Elections 2018 and the change of government. This delayed the import of flyover joints; however, these joints had now been imported and installed.

He highlighted that the project was almost complete with the exception of some sewerage works which needed time.

The project is being completed at an estimated cost of Rs903 million, besides the expansion of Khayaban-e-Jinnah from Shaukat Khanum Chowk to Raiwind Road. This would be completed at the revised estimated cost of Rs460 million.

The LDA governing body had given its administrative approval for the project in December last year at an estimated cost of Rs947.31 million. The project includes the remodeling of u-turns on Khayaban-e-Jinnah and construction of four pedestrian bridges on Johar Town Main Boulevard. However, earlier the project was delayed due to the lack of funds and later because of the mismanagement and general elections.

Initial cost estimates for remodeling of Khayaban-e-Jinnah were around Rs220 million which were later jacked up to Rs460 million in a surprise move.

The contractors initiated development work of Shaukat Khanum Flyover on March 22. Later in April, the authority had expanded the scope of the project and awarded another contract for remodeling of Khayaban-e Firdousi and Khayaban-e-Jinnah.

Citizens of Johar Town and adjoining areas, whose lives have become miserable due to frequent traffic jams and unending construction activity, have breathed a sigh of relief with the announcement that the project is finally being completed.

Criticising the city developer and the provincial government, a resident of Wapda Town, Waqas Butt, said the government had spent billions of rupees on the reconstruction and remodeling of Khayaban-e-Firdousi and Khayaban-e-Jinnah just a few years ago. "Except Sharif's estate on Raiwand Road, I don't see any purpose of spending millions of rupees to make this corridor signal-free. Poor planning and mismanagement on the part of city developer and provincial government had made people lives miserable in the area for the past eight months," he said.