LDA spokesman says authority will not violate law
LAHORE: The city is going to lose over 1,700 trees very soon as the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is all set to kick start the Elevated Expressway connecting Zafar Ali Road/Main Boulevard, Gulberg to Ring Road/Motorway M-2 by ignoring the grave environmental concerns over already dangerously high pollution levels in the city due to continued construction of mega projects and deforestation.
Recently the city witnessed the phenomenon of smog, which according to experts, was a result of elevated level of dust particles, which went into the air due to the continued construction activities for the past several years.
The city already witnessed high level of air pollution due to increased vehicular use, industrial activities and ongoing construction of mega projects especially the Orange Line Metro Train Project.
On Monday, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has invited applications for prequalification of contractors and engineering firms for construction of an elevated expressway connecting Zafar Ali Road/Main Boulevard, Gulberg to Ring Road/Motorway M-2 with an estimated cost
of Rs25 billion.
As per the documents, the project has a 10.77km length divided into three stretches such as stretch-A which is 4.28km in length, naming Band Road, runs from Babu Sabu to Multan Road, stretch B is 2.13km long and continues from Multan Road to LOS and stretch-C is 4.36km in length, which starts from Ferozepur Road to Main Boulevard, Gulberg.
Other features of the proposed project shows that the 4-lane dual carriage-way will accommodate approximately 31,304 vehicles/day, which include existing and additional traffic load. Officials said Cantt and Chouburji drains will come under this project but will remain open while the drain in stretch-C has already been covered under LOS Project.
The road will connect Main Boulevard, Canal Park, Shadman, Shama Chowk, Chaudhry Colony, Toheed Park, Gulshan Ravi, Moon Market and Band Road with the Motorway (M2) at Toll Plaza Babu Sabu, they said, adding the expressway facilities would include some other physical key features like nine main ramps, safety devices, greenbelts, plantation and advance traffic signal system, etc.
It is pertinent to mention here that Lahore High Court has set aside this in 2015 on the pretext that LDA wanted to acquire public land in a haste. A senior LDA official revealed that the authority had also put the elevated expressway project on hold due to lack of funds and some other issues, mainly related to land acquisition.
The EIA of this project had pointed out uprooting of 1,715 trees located in the project corridor. However, officials said at least three times (up to five times) more trees would be replanted as replacement of the removed trees. As per the EIA, the trees to be uprooted on the route included fully grown Kikar, Bakain, Sheesham, Jammin, Katha/Khair, Phulai, Evergreen, Mulberry, Shareen, Lemon, White Siris, Rubber Plant, Simal, Berry, Guava, Neem and Eucalyptus.
The EIA report revealed that a total of 886.16 kanal land on both banks of the Cantt drain will need to be acquired, including 563 affected houses from Main Boulevard, Gulberg to M2 at Babu Sabu and as the consequences of land acquisition about 563 families will face dislocation.
The public infrastructure will also be dislocated by this project and a total of approximately 440 Marla land will need to be acquired from government department, the EIA report maintained.
During the public hearing of this project, civil society had already opposed this project and declared it a grave threat to the environment of the provincial metropolis. A majority of participants had termed the project devastating for residential and commercial localities.
However, the EIA also pointed out some positive features of the project, including aesthetics and sight of the area, time saving to approximately 82km reduced travel distance and as a consequence, less operating costs of vehicles, less load on major roads of the city, and enhanced road safety due to decreased psychological stress of the road users.
It said environmental conditions would be improved while the proposed route was also beneficial for the future River Ravi Front Project as well as in improving the international ranking of Lahore as mega urban city. It added that the project would provide significant reduction in the routine traffic jams/traffic hold-ups, which will significantly eliminate vehicular emissions. This will impart an overall positive impact on air quality, aesthetics and a better quality of life.
On the other hand, LDA’s spokesman said the project included constructions of bus stations and approach/exit ramps at selected locations along the route on Elevated Expressway. The approximate cost of the project is 25 billion and the project will be executed in groups. Talking about the environment concerns raised in past, he said the authority would not violate any law. He said the project was a need of time and would be very beneficial for the city.
