Widening of Canal Road project okayed

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has granted approval to the project of widening of Lahore Canal Road, which will be executed in three phases. The first phase of the project from Thokar Niazbeg to Dharam-pura will be completed within a year at a cost of Rs 3.15b rupees.
The chief minister said that development projects worth billions of rupees are being executed for the rapid development of the province and provision of basic amenities to the masses. An effective strategy has been adopted for timely completion of the projects and maintaining a high standard of construction work, he added.
According to a handout, the chief minister was presiding over a meeting at Government House Murree on Sunday. Commissioner Lahore Division, DG LDA, Chief Engineer TEPA, Vice President NESPAK, Director Commercialisation LDA, Chief Town Planner LDA, CEO Al-Imam Associates Ahmad Mukhtar as well as other concerned officers were present on the occasion. The chief minister directed that the project of widening Lahore Canal Bank Road from Thokar Niazbeg to Dharampura would be started immediately after completion of the design and executed within timeframe.
The project envisages construction and widening of the roads on the both sides of Lahore Canal, construction of footpath, service road, overhead bridge, bus stop, green areas as well as provision of sports and recreational facilities. Moreover, removal of hurdles in the flow of traffic will enhance the beauty of the canal and save it from pollution. He said that the project has been approved after reviewing its all aspects and the proposals of experts so that it should serve as a model and add to the beauty of Lahore. He said approval has already been given to the project of Elevated Expressway at Murree Road from Secretariat II Chowk to Chandni Chowk costing Rs13 billion. He said in addition to provision of better transport facilities to the people of Rawalpindi, the project will also streamline traffic on this important road.
The chief minister further said that a number of model projects will be executed in the City through generation of additional resources for traffic management, landscaping and construction of parking plazas, widening and redesigning of road, environmental protection and sewage treatment. These projects will result in provision of modern amenities to the citizens as well as help in conservation of cultural heritage of the city. He said that these projects should be planned in such a manner that it should meet public requirements as well as benefit maximum people. He said instead of government funds, financial resources should be generated by launching profitable projects and state land should be retrieved from land mafia for its utilisation for this purpose.
The meeting was given a detailed briefing regarding Sato Katla drain project, Doongi Ground and Urban Waterway Projects and it was informed that these projects are aimed at recycling of drain water of urban areas of the City, checking wastage of drinking water, setting up of modern digital library, sports gym, cricket ground and development of gardens. It was further informed that the income generated through construction of commercial plazas at important places of the City will be spent on development projects and improvement of civic amenities. The meeting was told that a project has been evolved for setting up of a plant for the treatment of the water of the drain starting from Walton for its utilisation for various purposes. The meeting was also given a briefing regarding utilisation of partially erected building at Doongi Ground for the benefit of people and launching of different projects at the adjacent land including cricket ground, library, gym and provision of recreational facilities.