Several projects completed ahead of schedule in 2023: LDA CE

LAHORE : To overcome the problems of the citizens, a number of mega infrastructure development projects were completed in the provincial metropolis during the year 2023.

The executing agency, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has completed several projects before their scheduled completion time, which resulted in saving of money as well as provision of better services to the citizens.

Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed special interest in the infrastructure development projects by visiting scheduled and unscheduled visits and direct monitoring, said LDA’s Chief Engineer Israr Saeed while talking with the scribe.

He said the delayed Lahore Bridge project was completed on May 31, 2023, Samanabad Underpass was completed two months ahead of target, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute was renovated, Shahdara flyovers were completed in a record time of only 7.5 months instead of 10 months, Bedian Underpass was completed in just 70 days, Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar flyovers were completed in a period of only six and a half months, the Cavalry Underpass was constructed in just 2.5 months instead of six months and Nazria Pakistan Road has been made a complete signal corridor.

Israr Saeed said that the LDA’s Asphalt Plant, which was closed for the last five years, was functionalised and handed over to TEPA. Construction of Sabzazaar, Islamia Ground, Sant Nagar and Gulberg Sports Complex, which has been pending for seven years, has also been completed, he maintained.

Construction and rehabilitation of Dr Hasan Murad Road, Akbar Chowk to Amir Chowk total 8.4km was completed in just 15 days and the CM inaugurated the road. Work on the Ravi Bridge Extension Project and the Controlled Access Corridor Closed Road Project is in progress. Other than the LDA’s Engineering wing, the Housing Directorate of LDA also showed its commitment to serve the general public by launching LDA Mobile App.

Provision of free services ‘Dastak LDA at Doorstep’ was launched for the convenience of senior citizens at their doorstep while the LDA’s One Window Cell was revamped and double shift was also started to provide services to the citizens from 9AM till 9PM.

LDA’s Town Planning Wing was restructured according to the modern requirements of the present day and its performance improved after the appointment of two Chief Town Planners. A record revenue collection of more than Rs4 billion in terms of commercialisation fee during the year 2023 was made, which in comparison with the last 5 years was highest.

Digitisation of records of LDA schemes included digitisation of Johar Town, Sabzazar and Faisal Town was completed in the year 2023. Possession of plots in LDA City, Jinnah Sector C Block was made after a lapse of over ten years. Apart from this, the historic initiative of making the Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) fully functional was done by the DG LDA/Commissioner Lahore during the year 2023 and as its first project, TEPA completed the beautification of Canal Road underpasses on both sides from Thokar to Dharampura in a record time. At six busiest points of the city (Shimla Pahari Chowk, Qadir Topash Chowk, Nishtar Chowk, Couple Bridge, Khokhar Chowk and Gajjumta Chowk) U-turns were in progress for uninterrupted flow of traffic by TEPA while renovation of sitting and parking area, including entrance and exit of Punjab Institute of Cardiology was in progress.