LDA approves Rs34.52 billion for uplift projects

Authority will generate Rs7.72b through its own sources while Punjab govt will provide Rs11.09b

LAHORE: The governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has approved the annual budget of the authority and its subordinate agencies – Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) – for the current fiscal year 2019-20.

The governing body meeting was held on Thursday.

Total resources for the authority’s Urban Development Wing have been estimated at Rs34.52 billion while development expenditures for the current fiscal year are Rs18.82 billion.

The authority will generate Rs7.72 billion through its own sources while Rs11.09 billion will be provided by the Punjab government for executing various development projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and deposit works.

According to the budget document, an amount of Rs3.68 billion has been allocated through LDA’s own sources to carry out development work in LDA housing schemes. This includes Rs350 million for LDA Avenue-I, Rs230 million for the construction of road network, water supply and sewerage in Finance and Trade Centre, Johar Town, Rs3 billion for LDA City and Rs110 million for different development projects in various LDA housing schemes.

A sum of Rs546.8 million has been allocated for the construction of various buildings, including Rs20 million for the extension of the LDA office building in Johar Town, Rs50 million for the construction of an office building in LDA Avenue-I, Rs50 million for additional construction work at Park and Shop Plaza, Moon Market, Allama Iqbal Town, Rs70 million for the construction of Community Centre Garden Town, Rs100 million for the construction of apartments in Finance and Trade Centre and Rs100 million for the construction of official residences for LDA employees.

The LDA’s governing body has also approved Rs955 million for other development schemes, including Rs210 million for development and implementation of integrated computerised systems for LDA.

Construction of pedestrian bridges at different locations in the city will cost Rs200 million and for the very first time, Rs50 million have been allocated in the budget for green cover in Lahore.

An amount of Rs960.28 million has been set aside for new schemes, including Rs100 million for the construction of LDA Tower Complex, Ferozpur Road, Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of Main Boulevard Samanabad, Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of dual carriageway Liaquat Chowk to Multan Road, Sabzazar Scheme, Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of main boulevard Allama Iqbal Town and Gulshan-Ravi, Rs5 million for the improvement of main road G-Block Gulshan-e-Ravi, Rs3 million for the improvement and rehabilitation of roads in Allama Iqbal Town, Rs40.7 million for widening and improvement of Jorre Pul Intersection Allama Iqbal Town, Rs25 million for the improvement of roads in Faisal Town, Rs30.19 million for the rehabilitation of the road on both sides of the drain, Model Town Extension, Rs70 million for rehabilitation of roads in G/III Block of Johar Town and Rs50 million for improvement of Main Boulevard and adjoining links in different blocks of Tajpura Scheme.

The governing body also approved Rs1.7 billion for completing ongoing schemes. Approximately Rs590 million will be spent on constructing Walk and Shop Arena and Rs50 million have been allocated for constructing missing links of structure plan roads. Moreover, Rs60.73 million will be spent on remodeling underpasses at Canal Road and Rs300 million for preferential advantageous works.

The authority will also execute different projects under the ADP of the Punjab government and other deposit works amounting to a total expenditure of Rs11.09 billion during the current fiscal year. A sum of Rs60 million has been allocated for the construction of a flyover at Shaukat Khanum Chowk, along Khyaban-e- Jinnah, Rs100 million for widening of Aik Moriya Pull near railway station and Rs580 million for under construction sports complexes in the city.

Around Rs10 billion have been allocated to carry out different civil works, allied works and shifting of services for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train project.

WASA

WASA is excepting total receipts of Rs14.46 billion in the financial year 2019-20 while the estimated expenditure is Rs17.75 billion, including Rs3.80 billion for development schemes.

LDA Vice Chairman S M Imran presided over the meeting. MPA Sadia Sohail Rana, Major (retd) Syed Burhan Ali, Engineer Amir Riaz Qureshi, LDA Director General Muhammad Usman Moazzam, WASA Managing Director Sayed Zahid Aziz, Lahore Division Commissioner Asif Lodhi and representatives of the provincial local government, housing, planning and development and finance departments attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2019.