LDA set to solve traffic issues

In 20 years, the project would earn Rs120 billion in toll revenue

Lahore: Lahore Development Authority (LDA), oversees and issues permits for new building projects, housing developments, individual residences, and commercial development. The parks and green spaces of Lahore are also managed by it. This week, Aamir Ahmad Khan, Director General (DG) LDA, spoke exclusively with Bol News.

The one-window cell is a project that is dear to his heart. “It’s all the solutions in one cell,” he says.

Aamir argues that while open courts are occasionally convened, the LDA has implemented reforms in the one-window cell. He explains, ”That’s a way to communicate with the visitors and get their immediate feedback.”

“As an automatic token machine has been placed at the window cell to protect civilians from long lines and waiting, there will never be a line here,” he says.

According to him, the LDA has streamlined the map approval process such that a house map is now approved in 30 days.

”QR code was introduced for the benefit of the populace. At the one-window cell, an applicant is given a slip with a QR code number on it.” He explains further that, “special counters and lounges have been created for senior residents, as well as a counter just for people with disabilities.”

He mentioned that the E-service centre offers all amenities to the public. In one window cell, a special counter has been set up to address the issues facing Pakistanis living abroad.

In addition to all of these reforms, Aamir argued that the Pakistan Citizen Portal, which has been fully operational to provide comprehensive citizen counselling, has established booths of banks for fast payment process. Aamir has a long record of the LDA’s completed flagship projects under his belt, including the rehabilitation of Saggian Road, which cost a total of Rs 4.69 billion, and resulted in the construction and repair of four other roads.

”Roads from Ravi Bridge to Phool Mandi Chowk have been finished, while roads from Phool Mandi to the Lahore-Sheikhupura Road, the Faizpur Interchange, and Begum Chowk have also been built.” He added that hundreds of thousands of commuters from Phool Mandi, Sheikhupura, Begum Kot, Shahdara, Faizpur, Nain Sukh and other nearby communities benefited from this project. ”These projects have helped calm traffic at entrance and departure routes,” he said.

Additionally, he claims that the Pajian Chowk Project, which was just finished at a cost of Rs 2 billion, and a different route from Raiwind Road to Raiwind Bypass facilitates 30,000 vehicles every day.

According to Aamir, the Shahkam Flyover at the intersection of Canal Road and Defence Road near Multan cost Rs 3.91 billion.

”The three-lane, the two-way flyover will assist 120,000 motorists each day. This initiative has improved traffic flow on Multan Road, Defence Road, Canal Road, and in the adjacent areas. This project not only decreased pollutants but also saved billions of rupees in fuel annually.”

Aamir stated that the Data Ganj Baksh Flyover project not only assisted the population living on the other side of the railway line, but it also facilitated traffic passing through there.

”The project cost Rs 4.4 billion, but we saved Rs 500 million; up to 130,000 vehicles benefit daily from this facility,” he explained.

Aamir described the Ghulam Devi Underpass, which was built near Gulab Devi Hospital on Ferozepur Road. The project’s cost was Rs1.70 billion. Two new underpasses are being built on the Lahore Bridge as part of the project. Every day, thousands of vehicles will profit from the development of the underpasses.

LDA began building a multi-level suppression flyover, to address the traffic issues at Shahdara Chowk, the busiest entrance and departure route. The project will be finished in 10 months and would cost Rs 8.90 billion, according to Aamir. He considers the Data Darbar Parking Plaza at the shrine to be the most significant location in the city. Millions go there, but they face difficulties due to parking space unavailability.

“The LDA has chosen to build Data Darbar Parking Plaza due to the difficulty of visitors. The entire project will cost Rs3.65 billion and take 6 months to finish.On seven Kanals, a six-floor plaza will be built.”

The plaza will assist the nearby areas of Data Darbar, Bilal Ganj, Mori Gate, Urdu Bazaar, and others. He revealed that the Samanabad Mor and Multan Road underpass will be finished in about six months for a total cost of Rs 12.33 billion.

He stated that plans are in place to build the Akbar Chowk Flyover and Underpass.

This entire project will be 15 kilometres long in total. Around 300,000 automobiles will benefit from the project on a daily basis. Aamir also mentioned the planned construction of the elevated road, which will run from Main Boulevard Gulberg to the Motorway M2. “As it would link the core city with the motorway,” in Aamir’s opinion, “improve traffic flow going to the city’s major roadways and the highway. The project would be finished in 15 months and will benefit 73,000 vehicles every day,” he added, adding that its overall length is 10.3 km.

The project’s dual carriage, which has four lanes each side, would cost Rs 61 billion. While Rs 53 billion would be invested on the project’s dual carriage, “which has 3 lanes on each side,” he said.

Over the course of 20 years, this project would earn Rs 120 billion in toll revenue. Travel distances between locations will be halved thanks to this project, by almost 20 kilometres. In terms of toll taxes, the project’s cost will be recouped in 10 to 13 years.

Public-private partnerships, commercial support from the government, loans, and other funding options are being considered for the project’s costs, according to Aamir.

About the ‘Master Plan 2050’, he stated that the master plan ”would give a path for construction and development in the Lahore Division.”

Lahore has a population of 12.2 million people, and if population growth continues at its current rate, the city’s population would more than double in the next 30 years, reaching 25 million.

”Lahore Master Plan 2050 was generally released in the year 2019 on the order of the Honourable Supreme Court, keeping in mind the expanding population rate until 2050 and for the sustainable solution of the challenges faced by the city of Lahore,” he stated. Aamir emphasised that stakeholders like Lahore Bachao Tehreek, environmentalists, academics, civil society, urban planners, and architects were consulted when LDA proposed the Master Plan 2050.

In order to assess the environmental component, he claimed that 11 public hearings and consultation workshops were frequently held in the four districts. Following that, the Environment Department issued the NOC for this master plan. According to international standards, the Lahore Master Plan is the first comprehensive plan of its sort.

”A complete Master Plan of Lahore has been produced in accordance with the principles of regional development planning,” he said in his conclusion.

The writer is a journalist based in Lahore who covers politics, economy and militancy. He can be reached on Twitter @HassanNaqvi5.