LDA approves Rs34b budget

[Salman]

LDA approves Rs34b budget



LAHORE : GOVERNING Body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) approved an annual budget of Rs 33.54 billion for the LDA and its subordinate agencies Wasa and Tepa for the fiscal year 2014-15 out of which Rs 22 billion had been earmarked for the development works.

The budget was approved in a special budget session held on Tuesday. Vice Chairman LDA Khwaja Ahmad Hassan chaired the session which was attended by the members of provincial assembly including Bao Muhammad Akhtar from Lahore, Arif Khan Sandheela from Sheikupura and Rana Muhammad Arshad from Nankan Sahib. Director General LDA Ahad Khan Cheema, Managing Director Wasa Ch Naseer Ahmad, Additional Director General (HQ) LDA Amina Munir, Chief Engineer Tepa Saif-ur-Rehman, Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed, Director Finance LDA Zaheer Asghar Rana, and representatives of the provincial Local Government, Housing, P&D and Finance Departments as well as Commissioner Lahore Division were also present in the session.

Total resources of the LDA (Urban Development Wing) during the fiscal year 2014-15 have been estimated at Rs 13.32 billion against the expected expenditures of Rs 13.21 billion. This amount will also include development expenditures of Rs 11.19 billion. An amount of Rs 1.93 billion will be spent for the development works in the LDA housing schemes. An expenditure of Rs 1.67 billion will be incurred on running the development schemes.

A total of Rs 4.16 billion has been allocated for kicking off new projects in the provincial metropolis including Rs 2.94 billion for the total funding of new projects and Rs 1.16 billion for LDA’s contribution to the public-private participation projects. Construction of missing links of the Structure Plan Roads will cost Rs 700 million.

Improvement and rehabilitation of the carriage way Southern Bypass from Thokar Niaz Baig to Ameer Chowk Lahore will be carried out at a cost of Rs.140 million. A project for construction of Signal Free Corridors Jail Road, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam and Main Boulevard, Gulberg, Lahore will be executed at a sum of Rs. 1500 million. Construction of pedestrian bridges at signal free corridors will cost Rs. 150 million. A sum of Rs. 150 million will be spent on the construction of two Lane Dual Carriage Way from Ferozepur Road to Jinnah Flyover along the Railway Track. An amount of Rs. 200 million has been earmarked for the priority works in the new budget.

For the Development Schemes under the PPP mode, a sum of Rs. 1.16 billion has been allocated. An amount of Rs 500 million has been reserved as LDA’s share for the construction of Hussain Chowk Flyover on cost sharing basis, Rs. 360 million for Defence Road Flyover, Rs. 100 million for Sharaqpur Bypass, Rs. 100 million for Kalashah Kaku Expressway and another Rs. 100 for Southern Bypass. Other development schemes will cost Rs. 1.38 Billion. A sum of Rs.1.22 billion will be spent on dualisation of road from LOS to Multan Road. Restoration of the LDA Plaza up to 6th floor, Egerton Road Lahore, will cost Rs. 240 million.

The Tepa will have a total of Rs 6.16 billion at its disposal whereas its expenditure has been estimated as Rs. 5.43 billion including the development works costing Rs 5.16 billion. A link, connecting the Motorway at Shahpur Kanjra to Raiwind Road and Khayaban-e-Jinnah, will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.22 billion. Construction of Kasur Bypass, connecting Ferozepur Road to Depalpur Road, will be executed at a sum of Rs. 890 million. Construction of Kasur Sports Complex will cost Rs. 270 million. Construction of Hockey Stadium at Sheikhupura as well as at Nanka Sahib will cost Rs. 147 million each. A total of Rs. 6.3 million will be spent on other ongoing projects.

The Wasa is excepting total receipts of Rs 14.05 billion in the financial year 2014-15 while it will spend Rs 14.89 billion including Rs 5.63 billion for the development schemes. Replacement of outlived water supply lines in various localities of the city will cost Rs. 800 million. Installation of 13 new tube-wells will cost Rs. 180 million.

A sum of Rs. 440 million will be spent for the installation of 100 water filtration plants in the city. Improvement of Water supply system in MA Johar Town and Tajpura through Zoning/Isolation, Installation of Filtration plants and 100 percent metering (Bulk, Distribution and Consumer Levels) Lahore will cost Rs.1.6 billion. Construction of RCC conduit Sewer from Shoukat Khanum Hospital Chowk to Sattu Katla Drain Lahore will cost Rs. 800 million. Sewer lines, Construction of Drain and Disposal Station for Niaz Baig Drainage system UC-118, District Lahore, will be executed at Rs 1.5 billion.