–Authority to rehabilitate Royal Trail from Purani Kotwali Chowk to Sonehri Mosque
–Façade of all buildings to be rehabilitated; Hanging electricity wires at historical landmarks to be taken underground
LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), after reconstruction of Royal Trail from Delhi Gate to Masti Gate, is all set to rehabilitate the Package Four of Royal Trail which is from Purani Kotwali Chowk to Sonehri Mosque through Dabbi Bazaar in a month’s time, Pakistan Today learnt.
The Package 4 starts from Purani Kotwali Chowk leading to Sonehri Mosque through Dabbi Bazaar and has an area of 395 metres with 22 streets and 95 properties including nine heritage buildings and other properties whereas important bazaars like Waan or Twine Market, Dabbi Bazaar, Kashmiri Bazaar, Kasera Bazaar and Azam Cloth Market are also in the same area.
The rehabilitation interventions would include infrastructure and façade improvement of all the properties and shops. The infrastructure interventions would include the improvement of municipal services. The electricity wires will be taken underground, electricity transformers will be replaced with new ones, the high- and low-tension electricity poles will be removed, storm and sewerage pipelines will be separated and new ones will be laid. Similarly, gas and telecommunication services will also be improved.
The façade of all the buildings will be rehabilitated with the similar materials already used on those buildings and the heritage properties will be treated with the conservation techniques.
Sonehri Masjid is one of the main monuments located in the area selected for rehabilitation and it will also be conserved.
Previously, the WCLA worked on Package 1 which was from Delhi Gate to Kotwali Chowk and Package 2 which was from Kotwali Chowk to Masti Gate and restored almost 99 street having 1,250 properties whereas removal of encroachments from two main monuments on the Shahi Hammam trail and Wazir Khan Masjid was also done. The Package 1 was completed in 2015 while the Package 2 was completed in 2017.
A resident of the Rang Mahal area (near Sonehri Masjid) while talking to Pakistan Today said, “It will be good that WCLA starts the intervention here as we are waiting since long. WCLA has already rehabilitated a long trail from Delhi Gate to Masti Gate and the residents of that vicinity are getting upgraded services now. Roads and water sanitation have also improved in that area and it will be a great opportunity for us to have the same services.”
WCLA Media and Marketing Deputy Director Tania Qureshi was of the view that after the rehabilitation of package 1 and 2, tourism had picked up on the trail and with the rehabilitation of area near Sonehri Mosque tourists and visitors will get to see more now.
WCLA Director Engineering Akbar Munir said, “We have already rehabilitated the area from Delhi Gate to Masti Gate which is opposite to the Akbari Gate of Lahore Fort and we have a very good response from the locals as things have improved for them. For the first time, such interventions were made and no daily life business of the local residents or traders was hampered. We will be working on Package 4 on the same lines and we will start the work from mid of April after pre-qualification and tender procedures.”
WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said, “This package is of immense importance as it has Sonehri Mosque. Most of our work in under the ground and this is being done to give the city its lost look and feel back. All the ugly hanging wires will be taken underground and water system will be improved for the better living standards of the community.”
