Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated Kahna flyover on Sunday which has been constructed on Kahna Kacha Defense Road railway crossing.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the CM said that this 1.5 km long flyover has been constructed in a record period and three billion rupees of national exchequer have been saved through private investment in this public welfare project. This is the first project constructed through private investment on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis under public-private partnership in the province, he added. The contractor has carried out work on the project speedily and completed it before the stipulated period, as a result of which, best communication facilities will become available to the people of the area, he added.
He said that three billion rupees saved in this project will be spent on education, health, potable water and improvement of other social sectors. This model will be forwarded as it is the best model which will be promoted, he added. Sharif announced to reduce the toll of the flyover for vehicles from Rs 35 to Rs 30. He also announced that no toll fee will be charged from the people of the area and they will be issued free passes in this regard due to which they will travel without any fee on flyover.
This flyover is 100 feet wide and consists of two lanes and 9,000 vehicles will daily pass from here. Six feet wide footpaths have also been constructed on both sides for the pedestrians. Defense Road is an important link road between Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozpur Road and DHA. Due to movement of trains on the main line of Pakistan Railway, the gates of this railway crossing are often closed as a result of which the traffic has to wait for a long time. With the construction of this flyover, time of commuters and vehicles will be saved.
The chief minister congratulated people of the area, former LDA DG Ahad Cheema, current LDA DG Nabeel Javed, Lahore Division Commissioner, Lahore DCO and other concerned institutions on completion of the flyover in a record period. He said that agreement has been signed with Frontier Works Organisation for the construction of the south part of Lahore Ring Road on BOT basis and its construction work will be completed on August 14 next year at a cost of Rs 25 billion. Sharif said it is the responsibility of contractors working on projects to bring new machinery and equipment for the development projects so that these schemes could be completed with high quality in a record period. He said that at a time when the country has been put on the road to progress and prosperity, some opponents are out to stop this journey and want to create hindrance in the way of development through sit-ins, but they should peep into their conscience.
“It is amazing that the persons involved in corruption are razing the slogan of accountability,” he said, and added, “These people should first peep into their conscience. Every penny will be recovered from those who looted the country ruthlessly and committed dacoity on national wealth so that they could know about the logical end of looting the hard earned money of the poor nation.” He said Pakistan was created after supreme sacrifices and the Muslims have always dreamt that they will get everything along with independence in the country, but unfortunately, loot, plunder, and corruption did not give people their right. He said that when Muslims sacrificed all their belongings and migrated to Pakistan then the situation was very miserable and they are facing the same situation today due to different reasons. The CM said that innocent people are dying in the incidents of terrorism. He said that elites are leading a luxurious life, while children of common man are still deprived of education and health facilities. He said that time has come for holding those accountable who looted the country and deposited national wealth in Swiss banks or purchased properties in Dubai. Sharif said that all these will be held accountable. He said it is the voice of the nation that those who looted the country should not be forgiven at any cost.
The chief minister inaugurated Kahna Flyover after unveiling the plaque and took a round of flyover on his vehicle. He applauded the concerned authorities on a quality construction.
