Delay causes hike in expressway cost

Construction work will begin next month, project will cost Rs61.66 billion

LAHORE:

The estimated cost of the elevated expressway project designed to cater to the increasing traffic in Lahore, has doubled as compared to the original estimates because of a delay of several years in commencement of the construction work.

Official documents show that the estimated cost of the project has risen by Rs30 billion to Rs61.66 billion.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar plans to launch the project next month.

The expressway will be used by about 73,000 vehicles daily, reducing the load on the city's major roads. The diversion of traffic from congested areas will also help reduce pollution.

Read: Expressway may be built by public-private partnership

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Ahmed Aziz Tarar told The Express Tribune said a booklet containing all information about the project had been prepared.

He said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved the plan and work on it would begin as soon as the funds would be available.

The official said all efforts would be made to complete the work on time.

He said the plan was very important because it would not only reduce the traffic load on other city roads but also decrease air pollution.

Officials said the plan was prepared during the previous government in order to control the growing traffic problems in the city by building the elevated expressway over the drain from the Home Economics College in Gulberg to Shadman, Samanabad, Ferozepur Road, Gulshan Ravi and the motorway.

Traffic to and from the motorway will pass through the route instead of the roads in densely populated areas.

The initial estimated cost of the project was Rs31 billion but work on it could not be started earlier.

Nearly three-and-a-half years after the current government came to power, work on the project has resumed.

Under the plan, 10.5km elevated four-lane road will be constructed. Private land measuring 801 kanal will be acquired and handed over to the LDA for the construction. The affected owners will be compensated for the land and buildings constructed on it.

An amount of Rs3.5 billion has been allocated for the purpose.

Six interchanges will be constructed to enter or leave the expressway.

According to a traffic survey, it is expatiated that 73,866 vehicles will travel on the road reach day.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 15 months.

However, the planned expenses on the construction have almost doubled over the previous years due to inflation.

Now that Chief Minister Buzdar has formally approved the project, the LDA has reportedly sent a summary to the Punjab government for releasing funds for it.

In view of the request, the chief minister immediately invited the LDA director general, chief engineers and officers of the finance and other departments to brief him on all developments regarding the project. He was assured that work on the project will begin as soon as the funds become available.

The chief minister directed the officials to ensure the quality of work and complete the project on time.

The sources said Chief Minister Buzdar had also directed the finance department to release initial funds to the LDA so that the project could be inaugurated in March.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2022.