Go-ahead for Qartaba Chowk flyover

[Salman]

LAHORE, Dec 6: Keeping in view the increasing traffic load and frequent jams at Qartaba Chowk (Mozang Chungi) at the juncture of Ferozepur and Lytton roads, the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (Tepa) has been given a go-ahead by the Lahore Development Authority to construct a flyover there.

The work on Rs3 billion project will be launched in two phases soon after the completion of the Metro Bus System (MBS) project that is already underway linking this section to the 27-km long route from Gajjumata to Shahdara.

Qartaba Chowk is one of the busiest crossings in the provincial metropolis, from where according to an estimate some 200,000 vehicles pass everyday.

“Tepa officials concerned developed a proposal on this project intending to construct a signal-free facility at this busy intersection, catering all six connecting feeders, on Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) basis for which the LDA formally granted an administrative approval on Sept 15,” says a working paper made available to Dawn on Thursday.

Accordingly, the paper says, the proposals were invited from the private construction firms in this regard. The design submitted by a joint venture of ZKB and MSSKSONS was found to be most suitable, it adds.

“The design accommodates the MBS project grade separation facility and the two pedestrian underpasses on the north and south of the MBS Qartaba station along with all signal-free movements for the mixed traffic, facilitating in reduced travel time for the public,” the paper reads.

It says the chief minister constituted a committee for the technical evaluation of these proposals comprising planning and development department chairman, communication and works secretary, LDA director general and the Tepa chief engineer.

In the first meeting headed by the P&D chairman, the committee desired to reduce the gradients of the ramps. And in its second meeting presided over by the C&W department secretary, the committee desired that the turning radius needed to be rechecked keeping in view the international design standards.

The paper says Tepa, keeping in view the committee’s recommendations, finally revised the project’s design worth Rs2.993 billion including land acquisition (worth Rs700 million) measuring 7 kanal and 11 marlas.

The project, as per the document, will be executed in two phases. In the first phase the work relating to land acquisition
and shifting of services will be taken up. The construction activities will be launched in the second phase after completion of MBS project.

“The cost of civil works shall be rationalised as per engineers’ estimates. The contractor shall be allowed to earn profit within permissible limits of 4.5 per cent,” it reads.

According to a summary of the construction work, Tepa in collaboration with the private firms will undertake various jobs relating to earthwork and allied activities, sub-base and base, surface course and pavement, structure (flyover), structure (RCC walls, structure (rigid pavement), drainage and erosion works, ancillary works, shifting of utilities, land acquisition and consultancy etc in this regard.

In a meeting presided over by LDA chairman DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, the authority’s governing body finally allowed the Tepa administration to start work in this regard soon after completion of the MBS construction work.

It also allowed Tepa to construct a dual carriageway worth Rs524 million from LOS (Ferozepur Road) to Multan Road, along Cantonment Drain, besides installation of LED lights worth Rs339 million on 15 major roads in the city.

The body also approved compensation for the bereaved families of the two deceased sanitary workers of Wasa — Heera Masih and Danish Masih. The brothers working on daily wages had died after inhaling poisonous fumes while cleaning sewer lines.

Besides, ordering Rs0.4 million compensation for the families of each worker, the meeting decided to promote their father Nazir Masih, also a sanitation worker, to assistant supervisor (BS-3) rank and appointing their brother, Amanat Masih and widow of Heera Masih, Rabia, in Wasa.

It also approved the liver transplant costing Rs6.6 million of Khalid Mehmood, son of Muhammad Sharif, a junior clerk, from India. The meeting decided to pay conveyance allowance to all the employees from BS-01 to BS-19 at the revised rates as notified by finance department. It also agreed to the proposal for construction of 20 houses for LDA employees from BS-1 to BS-11 in Jubilee Town. Quota for promotion in BS-16 of diploma holder sub-engineers has been increased from 25 per cent to 33 per cent. Nomenclatures for the posts of Junior Accountant, Accounts Clerk and Junior Draftsman have been changed.

The meeting was attended by LDA Vice-Chairman Amir Asghar Dar, Wasa Vice-Chairman Haji Muhammad Sharif, LDA DG Ahad Khan Cheema, Additional DG (Headquarters) Mariam Kayani, Additional DG (Housing) Muhammad Usman, Chief Engineer (Tepa) Saeed Akhter, Chief Engineer (LDA) Asrar Saeed, Chief Town Planner Chaudhry Muhammad Akram and representatives of the provincial and local governments, housing, P&D and finance departments, besides administrators of the nine towns of the city district