Road development projects: LDA in love with big firms

LAHORE - The Punjab government has ordered the LDA to finalise arrangements to award new contracts for the development of roads to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO)’s like construction firms despite the fact that the move will not only deprive all registered contractors of LDA from their livelihood but also inflict financial damages to the authority. LDA contractor association has warned to move the court and register its protest to CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.  

The motive behind the directives issued by Punjab government led by CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are learnt to ensure hard-wearing and well-designed roads keeping in view digital age demands with better coordination of TEPA, WASA and LESCO so that after their construction, they could never be dug up for any purpose. The move is also aimed to ensure the completion of roads within stipulated time frame.

It may be recalled that former Punjab government headed by then CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi had initiated the same move having same aims and targets as being visualised by Shahbaz Sharif by ordering LDA to give new contracts to FWO’s like construction firms. But, regretfully the move badly failed to produce the results.