Firdous Market underpass hits snags

Contractor is given November 19 deadline

LAHORE:

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has given another deadline (November 19) for completion of the Firdous Market Underpass, a flagship project of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

The project was initially approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) in January and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman laid the foundation stone of the project in mid-May. Civil works of the project have been completed in mid-August and earlier, the authority announced to inaugurate the project for vehicular traffic in September and then in October.

However, owing to the sluggish performance of the authority and contractor the project missed all the deadlines.

Last week, Buzdar visited the project site around mid-night and expressed his displeasure over undue delays in construction of the Firdous Market Underpass. He also sacked the project chief engineer from the post and issued show-cause notice LDA director general and additional director general for showing negligence and slow pace of development works.

He directed officials concerned to complete the project in the shortest possible and no further delay will be tolerated. Meanwhile, traders and locals of nearby areas reached the site and complained the chief minister about sluggish performance and unprofessional attitude of the LDA and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

Now, LDA Director General, Ahmed Aziz Tarar has directed contractor and officials concerned to complete the project in all respect by November 19. He ordered early completion of work on the project. He has also instructed engineering staff, including the chief engineer, to remain at the site till completion of the project.

Tarar underlined that it was a flagship project of the government which has been started for the convenience of the people of Lahore. There was no justification of further delay in its completion. It should be completed without further delay and the quality of work should not be compromised.

He directed that additional labour be deployed to complete the work at the earliest. He said finishing work should be geared up and horticulture work should be accelerated on the project.

He directed that the work for laying asphalt on service lanes should be started immediately and construction of drain should be completed.

Initially, the government had estimated construction and the land acquisition cost of the project at Rs1.76 billion but the project was awarded to a private engineering firm for Rs960 million.

The chief minister had claimed the government had saved Rs130 million of the nation’s money. But owing to mismanagement and unnecessary delays this saving had been lost as the project cost has been escalated, revealed an official of the authority.

An LDA spokesperson highlighted that the project will help in resolving traffic congestion issue from areas, including Centre Point, Gulberg to Cavalry Ground and for facilitating vehicles going towards MM Alam Road. The underpass is a two-lane dual carriageway of 540-foot long for which special arrangements is made for the drainage of water. The authority has to acquire 7-kanal od land for construction of the underpass.

Underpass renamed

The LDA has decided that the Firdous Market Underpass will be named after famous Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Signboards bearing this name have been prepared as the project has entered in its completion stage and finishing works are underway in full swing.

The authority has also decided to build a monument at Center Point junctions. Construction work of this triangular monument has also been initiated.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2020.