Sewerage overhaul to cost Rs14b

Foreign firm draws tunnel boring plan for congested areas

LAHORE:

A US-based company has completed the project design for a Rs14 billion tunnel boring plan to lay underground sewerage pipelines in Lahore.

According to government officials, the tender for the project is likely to be awarded soon.

Funding for the project is being provided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The Punjab and federal governments have already approved initial estimates regarding the project.

The sources said the sewerage pipelines in most of areas of central Lahore had completed their viable life, due to which sewage drainage problems are increasing.

In view of the unavailability of funds from the Punjab government, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) approached foreign companies for funding the project, upon which the AIIB offered full support for a soft loan.

The offer was approved by the provincial and federal governments, following which WASA approved the project’s PC-I and loan application.

As per the plan, an underground sewerage pipeline will be laid from Larex Colony to Shimla Pahari, Queen Road, Punjab Assembly, AG Office and Chauburji through Railway Colony. The line will reach the Gulshan Ravi Disposal Station via Shamnagar.

The second pipeline will be laid underground from Gulberg Home Economics College through Zafar Ali Road, Shadman and Samanabad to Gulshan Ravi. The third project of Infantry Road will start from Allama Iqbal Road and reach Mcleod Road up to Lakmshi Chowk and then join the three roads to reach Gulshan Ravi Disposal.

The planned length of the pipelines is 28km.

Tunnel boring is a modern method by which the roads will not have to be dug to lay the sewerage pipelines. If parts of central Lahore, where the work is to be done, are excavated, the traffic system of the city would be severely disrupted.

The officials said the mechanism had been adopted because laying sewerage lines under and alongside buildings was a difficult task.

As per an agreement between the AIIB and WASA, Rs14 billion will be spent on the project.

A contract has been awarded to the US-based company to prepare the feasibility report for the project and ensure its monitoring till completion.

A team of consultants has arrived in Lahore to work on the project.

The company has reportedly sent its report to the AIIB, after which tenders will be invited for work in view of the design.

The sources said international tenders would be invited for laying the underground pipelines.

The planners hope that the project will solve the sewage problems in the areas.

Under the agreement, the project will be completed in three years.

Lahore WASA Managing Director Ghuffran Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the sewerage pipelines in the central areas of the city were very old and they needed to be replaced.

However, it was not possible to carry out digging in the areas where the pipelines were to be laid because of the traffic.

The sewerage pipelines would be laid through tunnel boring for which the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank would provide loan funding, he added.

The MD said a team of experts had completed the designing work and submitted its report.

He said the tendering process would begin soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2023.