A week ago, I had been to the federal capital via the GT Road after a very long time. It was the year 2006 when my father told me that World Bank had invested in this road project known as the Lahore-Gujranwala project and it would be a dual carriage road by the year 2009. All I experienced on that road were huge bumps and diversions.
This project was started in year 2006 and was expected to be completed by the year 2009 but its still under construction due to which many people have become victims of road accidents.
The fact behind these accidents are that drivers while driving at a high speed face sudden huge bumps on the main highway due to which they loose control and hit into the divider or into another car.
The most tiring and polluted patch which I traveled on was Gujranwala bypass. There was no sign of carpeted road except mud and an under construction bridge due to which there was only one track of road available.
I want to ask the concerned authorities that why has this project not been completed yet? The National Highway Authority (NHA) doesnt lack resources as the budget released for this project was 5.0 billion rupees and according to National Highway Authority updates, the progress of this project is only 60 percent and this is the year 2011.
The actual date of commencement was 18 February 2006 and this project was expected to be completed by 17 February 2009.And This project is also polluting the environment.
The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has asked the Federal Ministry for Environment to take immediate action against the National Highway Authority (NHA) for delay in the project as it is creating environmental problems for Gujranwala district. Every citizen of Gujranwala is hoping for the competition of this project by this year.
ASAD HAROON
Lahore
