Looking back: Highs and lows of a busy year at LDA

LDA’s jurisdiction was extended to Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib.

LAHORE:

The Transport Engineering and Traffic Planning Agency (TEPA) completed the Metro Bus project at a cost of Rs30 billion. In recognition of his services for the project, LDA Director General Ahad Khan Cheema was conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Also in 2013, 22 officials were killed in a fire at LDA Plaza on May 9, 2013.

Through landmark legislation, the provincial assembly extended LDA jurisdiction this year to the entire Lahore division.

The LDA has now been entrusted with planning and executing development infrastructure projects and approving regulation of private housing schemes in Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib.

The LDA launched LDA City housing scheme along Ferozepur Road, spread over 45,000 kanals.

It also started work on commercial, industrial, recreational and housing zones along both sides of the River Ravi under Ravi River Development Zone. A Strategic Policy Unit was also established to provide technical input for the two projects.

A new road from New Azadi Chowk to Masti Gate was built at a cost of Rs1.35 billion. Construction work on a four-lane dual carriage way from LOS Chowck on Ferozepur Road to Multan Road is also in progress. The project is estimated to cost Rs2.5 billion.

The Town Planning Wing of the LDA collected Rs2.4329 billions commercialisation fee, including Rs2.3232 billion in permanent commercialisation fees.

As many as 570 properties were sealed for not paying the commercialisation fee. All 435 applications seeking permanent commercialisation were disposed of.

A total of 7,180 applications were received for approval of building plans out of which 6,936 were disposed of. Completion certificates of buildings were issued on 1,190 out of the 1257 applications received for this purpose.

The Metropolitan Planning Wing compiled a list of 83 illegal housing schemes within the LDA-controlled areas.

The Metropolitan Wing launched a crackdown against violations of bylaws in a number of approved private housing schemes.

An awareness campaign was launched for prospective buyers of plots in these schemes through advertisements in newspapers. A special counter at LDA’s One Window Cell was also set up to provide information about the status of housing schemes and plots situated in them.

Marketing and advertisement campaigns by private housing schemes were also monitored.

The One Window Cell received 64,425 applications in 2013.

The Engineering Wing ordered improvement and widening of service roads along the 3.75 -kilometer long Khyban-i-Firdousi, from Showk Chowk to Shaukat Khanum Hospital, at a cost of Rs80 million.

A 60 foot-long road at Chandni Chowk in Quaid-i-Azam Town was built at a cost of Rs30 million.

Improvement and carpeting of the road from Maulana Shoukat Ali Road to Chandni Chowk road was completed for Rs23.5 million.

Patchwork of Canal Road from Thokhar Niaz Baig to The Mall was completed at a cost of Rs23.10 million. Widening and improvement of Punjab University Road was executed at a cost of Rs63.8 million. Repair and maintenance of internal roads of the LDA housing schemes was completed for Rs200 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2013.