Lahore: PUNJAB Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that work on the second phase of the Lahore Ring Road project will start in January and will be completed within two years.
Presiding over a meeting regarding the ring road project here on Monday, he said the link roads for connecting the ring road to different areas of the city as well as the underpasses should also be constructed to benefit the maximum number of people. He directed the NESPAK authorities to include the link roads and underpasses in the design of the project, keeping in view the future needs of the city. He said the quality of construction should be ensured in a transparent manner.
“The construction of the ring road will minimise the entry of heavy traffic in the city, which will also reduce the burden on the city roads,” he maintained.He said the project was already delayed, therefore, all the hurdles in the way of its execution should be immediately removed.
The chief minister constituted a special committee, comprising the chief secretary, the Planning and Development chairman and the Communication secretary, to take a prompt action to remove the hurdles in the execution of the project.
He directed the revenue authorities to adopt a transparent procedure for acquiring land for the project, adding that the valuable land near Thokar Niaz Baig had been sold at a price less than the market rate. He ordered formation of a committee to look into the matter and to take action against the officials concerned in this regard. Shahbaz said that before launching the project, modifications must be made in accordance with the needs of the people, adding that he would visit the area to review the proposed route of the project within a few days.
“The Punjab government has started a number of projects worth billions of rupees for improvement of infrastructure and their completion will give an impetus to economic and trade activities,” he said, adding that the Lahore Ring Road would not only benefit the Lahorites but people of the nearby areas as well.
Earlier, AZK Sherdil, the chairman of the administrative committee of the Lahore Ring Road project, gave a detailed briefing about the project. He said lack of coordination among different departments was the cause of delay in the project’s execution. He also apprised the meeting of various matters, including necessary modifications in the design and acquisition of land for the project, and submitted various recommendations for its early completion.
A senior member of the Board of Revenue gave details about acquisition of land for the ring road, mode of payment while the Communication secretary informed about the construction work. The NESPAK director informed the meeting about the design of the project.
PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Task Force Chairman Khawaja Ahmad Hasaan, Special Assistant Pervaiz Rashid, the chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, the Board of Revenue member, the DCO Lahore as well as senior officers of the departments concerned were present on the occasion.
