Amraiz Khan
Lahore
Poor construction pace and substandard material used in Firdous Market underpass has exposed LDA authorities by postponing its inauguration sixth time on Wednesday. It is worth mentioning here that on Wednesday Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran was supposed to inaugurate the above said development project. Chief Engineer (CE) LDA Abdul Razzaq Chauhan admitted that the inauguration did not take place due to poor construction work and slow pace.
As per sources the inauguration of the project was once again postponed due to incomplete construction work and the soft inauguration of the project was deleted from the schedule of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Lahore. It merits mentioning here that earlier DG LDA had given five deadlines for completion of the construction work and opening of Firdous Market underpass. As per DG Announcement the city’s first 540-meter-long Firdous Market underpass was supposed to be opened on November 20.
LDA chief gave five deadlines for the completion of same underpass but could not keep his words. The first deadline was given September 6, 2020, the second was September 15, the third was October 6, the fourth was October 15, and the fifth was October 30. DG LDA Ahmed Aziz Tarar announced November 20 as the date for the inauguration.
An important step in controlling traffic congestion in Gulberg, Firdous Market underpass is near its completion. Chief Minister Usman Bazdar laid the foundation stone of his government’s first underpass on May 18, 2020. The total cost of the project was estimated at Rs 1.746 billion and the construction cost was estimated at Rs 1.09 billion. The government claimed to have saved a whopping Rs 13 crore in construction cost through tendering and the construction cost reached Rs 96 crore. A deadline of 3 months had been given for construction of underpass but even on the 6th deadline, the project could not be completed. DGPHA Jawad Ahmad Qureshi said that plants are being planted for the beautification of the underpass which will further enhance its beauty.
Residents of Firdous Market have criticized delaying tactics of DG LDA for completion and opening of the project and said that due to the construction work and unnecessary delay in its completion has doubled the miseries of the locals of the areas. The two-way underpass is 540 meters long and consists of two lanes on each side. Special measures have been taken for drainage of rain water and 7 kanals of land has been acquired for the project.
The foundation stone of Firdous Market Underpass was laid by the Chief Minister on May 18. According to the plan, the underpass barrel is 540 meters while the full length is 900 meters. The number of underpass users was estimated at 91,000. Underpass will benefit those who come to Defense, Cavalry, Gulberg. Regular work on the project began on June 5. The project was not completed in four months instead of three months. Chief Minister Usman Bazdar ordered to complete the four-month plan in three months. The Chief Minister was to inaugurate it on November 20. The Chief Minister gave five more days to complete the project which could not be completed by even November 25.
The soft inauguration of the underpass was expected during the Prime Minister’s visit to Lahore, which was postponed from the Prime Minister’s schedule. The next date for the inauguration of Firdous Market Underpass is now expected within couple of days, LDA has sought time from the Chief Minister.
A senior LDA officer seeking anonymity said that had Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif running the affairs of Punjab the project would have been completed before the given deadline. This very DG LDA would have been very active but due to poor performance of DG LDA project was not only delayed but also substandard material was used in construction work. An inquiry should be done through Anticorruption to fix the responsibility and officers responsible for delay and poor work should be taken to task, he added.
