Lahore: Several road projects in southern Lahore are still incomplete years after commencement, hindering the mobility of people and irritating residents.
According to a news source, the sewerage project on Raiwind Road has not been completed, causing motorists inconvenience through traffic diversions and gridlocks. Similarly, the development of the Lahore Ring Road (LRR)’s southern loop and New Defence Road was due to begin a couple of years ago but the projects could not be started either because of the scarcity of funds or lack of the government’s interest.
Residents of societies located along New Defence Road and Raiwind Road such as Khayaban-i-Amin, Lake City, and DHA Rahbar are irked because of regular gridlocks and other obstructions caused by incomplete work on regular routes. Heavy traffic on alternate routes is damaging roads and also causing noise and air pollution.
Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal, who is also the head of the Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA), told reporters that work on the LRR’s southern loop would begin soon after completion of necessary procedures. The loop has been divided into three packages: Sui Gas Colony to Gajju Matah, Gajju Matah to Raiwind Road, and Raiwind Road to Multan Road, he said.
According to Sumbal, the LRRA is currently reviewing a bid received from the Frontier Works Organisation, which has offered to develop the LRR from Sui Gas Colony to Gajju Matah on a build, operate and transfer basis.
