LAHORE: In a landmark development to free roads from traffic jams, two main bottlenecks at key intersections, which were identified by the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) under the master plan 2021, have been removed allowing smooth traffic supply, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Yateem Khana Chowk and the Scheme Morr, which were intersections on the Multan Road leading to the Lahore Ring Road, were among the 20 main bottlenecks in the city including Chowk Taxali, Chowk Chauburji, Chowk Istanbul, Chowk Davis Road, Zafar Ali Road, Bhekewal Morr, Dubai Chowk, Kalma Chowk, Qainchi Amar Sidhu, Model Town Morr, Chowk Shalimar, Do Moria Pul, Moochi Gate, Minar-e-Pakistan, Azadi Chowk, Morr Samanabad, Qurtaba Chowk, Canal Bridge on Jail Road, Lakshmi Chowk and Regal Chowk.
Both the bottlenecks were removed after completion of a development plan, which included construction of a 3.5 kilometres two sided road between the Bund Road and the Multan Road, Sabzazar Bridge over the Cantt drain, retaining a wall along the bridge and roads, provision of services such as drains, sewers, water supply lines, street lights and footpaths. The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) completed the entire project at an estimated cost of Rs 750 million. In 2008, the Punjab government had awarded the project’s contract to the FWO under the Lahore Road Rehabilitation Project Phase-II.
The 3.5 kilometres road included a bridge at the Babu-Sabu Interchange that connected the Lahore Ring Road with the Multan Road easing the traffic flow. The road would act as a shortcut for all traffic coming from Thokar Niaz Baig to the Multan Road, Scheme Morr, Gulshan-e-Ravi Road, Yateem Khana Chowk and other main parts of the city. The road was a four-lane double sided road, while each lane was 24 feet wide. A water supply line, sewerage drain and two rain water drains were also constructed along the road. A shopping centre was also located on the other side of the road. A 16 feet wide service lane was also constructed alongside the road to ensure the smooth supply of traffic.
The road was constructed in three sections including Multan Road to Liaqat Chowk, Liaqat Chowk to T Junction and T Junction to the Babu Sabu Toll Plaza and Bund Road. A 50 feet wide and 40 metres, four lane, double span bridge was also constructed over the Cantt drain adjacent to the Bund Road Toll Plaza for assuring a smooth traffic supply. A wall measuring 664 metres was constructed on both sides of the drain. Around 50 internal roads in different blocks of Sabzazar were constructed measuring 11 kilometres. Sewerage lines measuring 1,200 feet were laid alongside the road.
The water supply line measured 500 feet. A FWO official told Pakistan Today that the development plan was the second part of the LRRP Phase-II consisting of 183 internal roads and three major roads including the Madar-e-Millat Road, Main Road Johar Town and Main Road Sabzazar costing around Rs 2.8 billion.