Infrastructure: Work on Multan Road might begin in July

[Salman]

Infrastructure: Work on Multan Road might begin in July

LAHORE:

Repair of Multan Road’s Section 3, Phase-2 – from Scheme Mor to Chauburji- may begin this month, Project Director Sabir Khan Sadozai said on Tuesday.

The work originally scheduled to begin on the completion of widening and improvement of the road from Thokhar Niaz Beg to Scheme Mor in October 2011, was brought to a halt by lack of funds.

Sadozai said the government has now approved Rs873 million for a scaled down project.

Talking about a tentative date for the initiation of the project, Sadozai said, it was still early to say when road work could start as Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and the Revenue Department had yet to submit their assessment of the revised project. He said the reports were likely to be available in two weeks.

Sources in Project Management Unit (PMU) claim that carpeting of the road will not cause traffic congestion. ]

While the road will only be repaired for the time being, PMU officials say Rs300 million will be required if the government decides to expand it.

Work to improve and repair Multan Road began in October 2009.

The 7.3 km road from Thokar Niaz Beg to Scheme Mor (Section 1) was completed in October 2011 at a cost of Rs1.5 billion out of the Rs2,13 billion allocated for the whole project.

Sewer line

Work on a 72-inch wide and 40-foot deep sewerage line on the road has been started at a cost of Rs1.43 billion. It is meant to address sewerage problems in Canal View Society, Azam Garden and Mustafa Town.

Pre-planning for the BRTS

The renovation of the 3.7 kilometres road will be followed by installation of pillars for a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) running from Chowk Yateem Kahana to Samanbad Mor.

Commissioner Jawad Rafique Malik told The Express Tribune that BRTS will be run from Thokar Niaz Beg till Scheme Mor on a road corridor and from Scheme Mor to Chauburji on an elevated lane.

Communication and Works Chief Engineer Munawwar Bashir told The Tribune that up to 15-foot land will be acquired at some places along the stretch.

He said that the Water and Sanitation Agency will expand the adjacent drain from 1.8 metres to 4.5 metres for installation of pillars for the bridge.