Roadworks: Contracts for two projects given in Rs1.47b

Signal-free corridor planned between Qurtaba Chowk, Liberty Roundabout.

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority has awarded contracts worth Rs1.47 billion for the construction of a signal-free corridor from Qurtaba Chowk on Jail Road to Liberty Roundabout and improvement of the southern by-pass of the Lahore Ring Road from Thokar Niaz Beg to Wapda Town roundabout.

The contract for the construction of the seven-kilometer long corridor was awarded for Rs1.3 billion to Habib Construction Services. The contract for the improvement works was given for Rs170 million.

The LDA has set a timeline of four months for the construction of the signal-free corridor.

The two major intersections at Shadman Chowk and Fowara Chowk (where Jail Road meets the Gulberg Main Boulevard) will be made signal-free with the construction of underpasses. Other intersections on Jail Road and the Main Boulevard will be made signal-free with the construction of U-turns. These will be constructed at Eden Centre Chowk, PIC Chowk, Canal Road intersection, Zafar Ali Road intersection, Main Market Chowk and Zahoor Elahi Chowk.

Four overhead pedestrian crossings will also be constructed along the corridor at a cost of Rs60 million.

The signal-free corridor will prevent traffic jams in front of major education institutions located along the route. These include Lahore College for Women University, Kinnaird College & All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) College. It is expected to make the operation of ambulances serving the Punjab Institute of Cardiology and Services Hospital easier.

Habib Construction Services were selected from amongst four companies that participated in the bidding. The other bidders were the National Logistics Cell, ZKB-Reliable and AKB-IKAN.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2015.