LDA allocates Rs580m for reconstruction work

Authority begins enhancement of several major city roads

LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has initiated maintenance and reconstruction works of main city roads with an estimated cost of Rs580 million.

Following the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the authority has started the reconstruction of several major city roads, besides patchwork, asphalt laying, and curbstone painting. The city developer, on Sunday, kick-started the development works on Moulana Shaukat Ali Road, Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazar and other areas.

An authority’s spokesman highlighted that the LDA has started repair and maintenance works of several roads with an estimated cost of Rs80.30 million.

A sum of Rs10.32 million will be spent on the patchwork of Samanabad, Gulshan -e-Ravi and Sabzazar’s roads. Similarly, Rs70.62 million will be used for maintenance and Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab, Wahdat Road, Main Boulevard Allama Iqbal Town and its adjoining roads and various small roads of Muslim Town.

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Meanwhile, LDA Director-General Muhammad Usman Moazam directed Traffic Planning and Transport Engineering Agency (TEPA) to implement the international standard traffic management system in the provincial capital. He instructed officials concerned to introduce a traffic information system to inform commuters about alternate routes by using the latest technology and electronic boards.

He further underlined that the need for future-proofing of new roads by incorporating traffic requirements of tomorrow. The agency should also focus on exploring new ideas to generate more revenue for development. It should develop a synergy in standards of road safety, traffic engineering and traffic signs for the smooth and efficient flow of traffic.

LDA DG visited TEPA office on Sunday and issued important instruction to the agency’s officials. TEPA Chief Engineer Mazhar Hussain Khan briefed Moazam about organisation structure of the agency, its functions, and on-going development projects. He also highlighted various projects of the agency to reduce distances in different areas of the provincial metropolis.

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Director Admin and Finance Muhammad Irfan, Project Directors Iqrar Hussain, Hammadul Hassan, Tauseef Ahmad, Mobeen Asghar, Deputy Directors Muhammad Asad, Junaid Bhatti, and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.

Later, LDA DG planted a sapling and prayed Allah Almighty for peace and prosperity of the country. He also visited Thokar Niaz Baig Chowk to inspect the quality of on-going development works.

A couple of weeks ago, the authority has invited expression of interest (EOI) for the beautification of all underpasses of Lahore, flyovers, Thokar Junction, Lower Mall from Civil Secretariat to Karbala Gamay Shah and several other sites the provincial capital.

The authority highlighted Lahore, the cultural hub of Pakistan, was now fast becoming the economic nerve centre of the country. It requires a special focus on infrastructure development to meet challenges of rapid expansion and a population of over 10 million.

As per terms of the EOI, the selected firm will perform the assignment free of cost but it will be benefitted by the authority in the shape of awards, logo displays and acknowledgement of the firm as LDA’s beautification partner. The authority will provide the design and supervise the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2019.