NEWS : Firdous Market underpass to be completed this week ( Lahore )

LAHORE: The Firdous Market Underpass Project (FMUP), named Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Underpass, is all set to be completed during the current week after a long wait of six months, APP reported on Wednesday.

The 540-meter long two-lane dual carriageway underpass would facilitate traffic from the adjoining areas, with special arrangements for water disposal. The project, for which around seven kanals was acquired, would benefit more than 91,000 vehicles daily and save fuel worth millions of rupees annually.

It may be mentioned that the completion of construction work, carried out by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), was delayed by three months as the project was supposed to be completed in August within 90 days after its start on May 19.

The project was earlier estimated to be completed in four months, however, the LDA had been directed by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar to complete its construction within 90 days.

Later, on a visit to the project site, the Punjab CM had removed the project chief engineer and also issued show cause notices to the LDA director general (DG) and additional DG over the slow pace of work.

The project was estimated to cost Rs1.76 billion, including land acquisition and construction. However, the Punjab government awarded the construction contract for Rs960 million, saving Rs130 million of the nation’s money.

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