Lahore: Four-lane overhead expressway planned to reduce traffic load

[Naveed Yaseen]

PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that in order to reduce traffic load on the city roads, a 4-lane overhead expressway would be constructed from Kot Lakhpat to Niazi Chowk, one lane of which would be reserved for emergencies.

He stated this while chairing a meeting in Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here on Thursday. The moot was held in connection with development projects for Lahore.

The CM ordered an inquiry by the CM’s Inspection Team into the sewerage project worth Rs 160 million in Tajpura. He asked for report of the inquiry within five days.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the proposed 16.5-kilometre long expressway would start from Kot Lakhpat and end at Niazi Chowk via Kalma Chowk, Qurtaba Chowk, Chauburji and Data Darbar.

He said that Rs 257.5 million had been approved for feasibility study and detailed design of the expressway and the whole project had been linked with a review report by an independent institution.

He said that NESPAK had started work on the project in the light of the instructions of the Punjab government. He said that Thokar Niaz Beg Flyover project was in final stages of completion and all encroachments in the way including petrol pumps, CNG filling stations, KFC, Zee Grill and a number of shops had been removed.

The CM directed Secretary Communication and Works that all stages of construction work of Thokar Niaz Beg Flyover should be completed within August.

He further directed the heads of development agencies, district governments, Wasa and officers of Communication and Works department that all development activities in urban areas should be undertaken during night so that people could be saved from traffic and other problems.

He directed the Lahore DCO to strictly enforce the ban on the entry of private trucks and trolleys into the city limits from 6 am to 11 pm.

The chief minister said that use of black and yellow paint on the edges of roads was a waste of national resources and directed to stop this practice immediately. He said that such yellow and black strips were not painted anywhere in the world and the wastage of millions of rupees on paints merely for beautification was not acceptable.

He sought information from MNAs and MPAs about the situation in the provincial metropolis regarding drainage of rainwater yesterday.

He was informed that the overall situation in the city remained satisfactory but due to an out of order pumping station in Tajpura, the lift station did not operate as the result of which several feet high water accumulated in the area and also entered houses.

The CM said that new sewer lines were laid in Tajpura area at a cost of Rs 160 million during his last tenure and inundation of the area during the rainy season had exposed the whole situation. He ordered inquiry by CM’s Inspection Team into the sewerage project worth 160 million rupees in Tajpura and submission of report within five days.

Shahbaz Sharif reviewed the pace of construction work on Lahore-Kasur-Ganda Singhwala Road and expressed his surprise over the fact that instead of utilising the existing road, it had been dismantled and earmarked as median. He said that he had never seen 26 feet wide median at any expressway.

He directed the Forest department to plant tree saplings on the median of Lahore-Kasur Ganda Singhwala Road in such a manner that traffic headlights should not cause problem to the drivers travelling on either side of the road.

He also issued instructions for an inquiry by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team into dismantling of newly constructed Bund Road and its subsequent reconstruction resulting in lose of millions of rupees to national exchequer.

In response to the demands of parliamentarians regarding shifting of Ring Road to other side of River Ravi, inclusion of Shahdara into the Ring Road and linking it to Kala Shah Kaku and setting up of a housing colony in Shahdara, the Chief Minister directed to handover the matters to the committee set up under the chairmanship of AZK Sherdil, which would submit a detailed report.

Punjab Minister for Excise and Taxation, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashud and MNAs and MPAs from Lahore, Chief Secretary Punjab, Chairman P&D, Secretary C&W, DG LDA, MD Wasa, Secretary Housing, Secretary Finance, DIG Traffic and Lahore DCO were present in the meeting.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=127531