LAHORE: There could still be one-and-a-half months of delays in the completion of the mega Shahkam Chowk flyover as the Lahore Electric Supply Company and the National Transmission and Despatch Company are not ready to observe an off and on power shutdown to ensure the live wires of 66kV, 132kV and 220kV are dead.
This deadlock will allow the construction workers and engineers to lay the deck slabs and launch the girders, prior to completing the asphalt work.
Although the Sheranwala Gate flyover should be open to traffic by the end of this week, the groundworks – such as building roads and other projects – will take around 15 days.
Last July, the flyover project for Shahkam Chowk had been launched. Some procedural issues delayed the acquisition of the land (64 kanal). In November last year, the contractor was given possession of the entire property.
It is estimated that the total project cost is over Rs4.233 billion, including Rs2.5487 billion for construction. Shahkam Chowk will experience less traffic congestion after the project is completed and save time, energy, and money. Approximately 55 percent of the work was completed by December 5. According to the DG, the Sheranwala Gate flyover is likely to open for traffic within a few days.
It was also expected that the Sheranwala project would be completed by March. It is yet to be finished due to a number of technical and administrative issues. As part of the Rs5bn project, Rs2.634bn was allocated for construction and the remainder for land acquisition. There are 19 spans in the flyover, with a total length and width of 1,000 meters and 17 meters, respectively.
Lahore’s northern areas are among the beneficiaries of the project (railway station, Akbari Mandi, Walled City, Lunda Bazaar, Azam Cloth Market, Shadbagh, Badami Bagh, GT Road, Misri Shah, Data Darbar area, Shah Alam Market, Brandreth Road and Azadi Chowk).
