The first ever development project in Punjab on BOT basis completed

Lahore: The first ever development project in Punjab on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis, with private investment, has been executed as more than 98 per cent construction work of fly over at Kahana Railway Crossing in Lahore, has been completed.

Director General Lahore Development Authority Nabeel Javed inspected the ongoing work being carried out for giving finishing touches to the flyover on Saturday.   Chief Engineer LDA Asrar Saeed also accompanied him at this occasion.

A private company has constructed the 1.5 km long flyover at Kahna Kacha – Defence Road, Railway Crossing at a cost of rupees three billion under this agreement. The dual carriageway is 100 feet wide consisting of two lanes on each side. Walkways have also be constructed for pedestrians on both sides of the flyover.

The private company has borne the hundred per cent cost of construction of this project while Lahore Development Authority has been responsible for provision of land and shifting of utility services for this purpose at a cost of Rs.800 million.

Execution of this project was a manifestation of the trust and confidence of private investors upon Lahore Development Authority as well as the Punjab Government.

Agreement for executing this project was signed between Lahore Development Authority and a private company on January 09, 2015 and work was started in October 2015.

An average of 9000 vehicles will daily pass through this fly over and private company will recover its investment by collecting toll tax from the vehicles passing through the flyover during a span of 25 years.

Defence Road is a major link between Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozepur Road and Defence Housing Society. Kahana Railway Crossing being the main railway crossing, witnesses frequent gate closures to allow trains to pass due to which the Defence Road traffic experiences long delays and precious time of passengers was being wasted besides increased fuel consumption. The Fly over will ease the traffic flow at this junction. It will also benefit the residents of newly developed private housing schemes in south of Lahore. It will also provide approach to the newly developed vegetable and fruit market besides facilitating movement towards Metro Bus Service (MBS) starting point at Gujjumatta and will be helpful in saving time and fuel cost saving.