LAHORE: The Punjab government has changed the remodelling plan of Bhatta Chowk for the third time and has ordered to widen the chowk instead of making a flyover or an underpass to ease the traffic flow, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The repeated alternations have made the Bhatta Chowk project a non-starter, dashing residents’ hopes that Bhatta Chowk, a traffic gridlock, would turn commuter friendly soon. The chowk is an important interconnection at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Walton Cantonment and Lahore Cantonment leading to Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Initially, a flyover construction was planned at Bhatta Chowk, positioned at Defence Road and Badian Road, later underpass construction was recommended, and now the government has ordered to widen the chowk to ease traffic flow. A NESPAK official told Pakistan Today that more than 30000 vehicles daily passed through the Bhatta Chowk.
“As it gives direct access to DHA and cantonments toward the airport, it remains choked,” he added. “We designed and prepared flyover and underpass feasibility reports but both were replaced by the chowk’s remodeling plan due to reasons best known to the government,” he said.
He said underpass plan was the most feasible project as it asked for lesser space and provided maximum benefits, but it got dropped. Walton Cantonment Board official said that the underpass plan had been finalised and the nearby land, housed by residential and commercial buildings, had been marked red.
Government had also issued notices to the red zone’s citizens and around Rs 1 billion had been allocated to acquire the land that had to be flattened for the construction, he said.
“We offered our services for the project but it came to a halt and now a new plan is in the pipeline,” he added. Lahore Cantonment Board official said Bhatta Chowk was on government’s top priority and it was made a part of Major Infrastructure Development in Budget 2010-11 which catered for the land acquisition for widening/improvement of Ghazi Road from Package-11 of Lahore Ring Road Project to Rehman Villas including improvement of Bhatta Chowk.
An official at CM secretariat said that the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif ordered the formulation of a comprehensive plan to streamline traffic flow at Bhatta Chowk and initiating work on the project. Special instructions were issued to the CM’s Advisor Jehanzeb Burki, chairman Planning & Development, secretary communications, Lahore commissioner, LDA director general, DIG Traffic, NESPSK and NLC authorities.
During the meeting various proposals for improving traffic system at Bhatta Chowk were considered, he added. He said government had ordered the Communication and Works (C &W) to widen the linking road at Bhatta Chowk to around 20 to 25 feet instead of constructing underpass.
CITIZENS DEMAND FLYOVER, UNDERPASS: A number of DHA residents demanded the construction of a flyover or an underpass across Bhatta Chowk to allow for easier access to the airport. Shahid Khan, a Phase IV resident said that project was proposed about five years ago, but was not implemented because of conflicts regarding the expenditure, while residents continued to suffer traffic congestion and damaged roads.
Khurram Haroon, a DHA resident said the development of the flyover or underpass had remained one of the major demands of residents. DHA Lahore spokesman Tajamul Hussain Anjum said that DHA had constructed Express Broadway linking Phase IV to access the airport to avoid traffic congestion at Bhatta Chowk.
He said Bhatta Chowk is located at Defence Road, called Ghazi Road, and Bedian Road, and both roads belonged to the Punjab government. “It is the responsibility of the government to take prompt decision to help improve traffic flow at Bhatta Chowk for commuters’ convenience. As far as DHA administration’s assistance is concerned, it was at the government’s disposal,” he said.
DHA Residents Association (RA) office bearer said flyover was one of the priorities, adding that residents had complained of delays in catching flights and seeing off or receiving relatives from the airport. He said DHA administration had shown interest in the project, but no action had been taken.
