Expressway may be built by public-private partnership

Punjab government is considering a proposal to build a planned elevated expressway from Gulberg Main Boulevard to the M2 Motorway on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

Preliminary estimates suggest the project would require around Rs61 billion with a completion period of 15 months. It is estimated that the expressway would save an average time of 30 minutes on the route and would have a capacity of 73,000 vehicles per day. It will provide an east-west route to commuters of Lahore and is aimed at decreasing the huge burden of vehicles on existing roads.

A meeting on road projects with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair on Wednesday was apprised that the provincial government had already invested Rs5 billion on feasibility and environment impact assessment (EIA) studies conducted by the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) and the Engineering Consultancy Services Punjab (ECSP).

Addressing meeting participants, the prime minister suggested that other urban projects in Lahore be operated in the PPP mode on the lines of Ravi Urban Development and Central Business District.

He said Lahore has huge potential for generating revenue and emphasised utilising prime urban land that is presently unutilised and is only “dead capital”. The revenue generated from prime locations can be utilised for public welfare schemes, he added.

Read More: ‘Physical survey of Leh Expressway under way’

He also stressed the need of long-term planning for urban centres that would result in improved cities’ management, public service delivery and revenue generation.

Initial EIA report of the project made available to The Express Tribune states that routine traffic jams on congested roads is one of the main reasons of atmospheric pollution, like poor air quality and noise, which severely affect the quality of life in the metropolis.

It highlights the planned construction of a 4-lane dual carriageway by using the existing route of Cantt drains and Chouburji to connect Jail Road and the Shahra Quaid-i-Azam with the motorway at Babu Sabu Interchange.

The project is unique in its nature as it will form the shortest link among the busiest roads of Lahore, mainly Main Boulevard, The Mall, Ferozepur Road, Jail Road, Multan Road, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Band Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2022.