LAHORE: The proposed project of the construction of Shahadra Expressway from Shahadra Chowk to Imamia Colony Crossing will facilitate more than 30,000 vehicles daily on GT Road.
This project after completion not only will reduce time occupancy through easing flow of traffic from both sides of the provincial capital but also save fuel consumption besides lowering pollution level.
The Punjab Planning and Development department awarded the contract of construction of this 5.8 kilometres long GT Road Express-way to a consortium of well known Pakistani companies to execute it on Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
Well placed government sources stated here Sunday that the PC-I along with the proposals of toll collection were approved by the steering committee of the P&D and the construction work would be started very soon.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 7.5 billion and the contractor will be authorised to collect toll from the vehicles under an agreement for next 25 years, the sources added. The rate and schedule of toll charges was finalized between the LDA and the consortium.
Starting from current location of Ravi River Toll Plaza and ending at Rachna Town near Kala Shah Kaku, after Imamia Colony Railway Crossing, the G.T. Road Express-way will be a grade-separated and access-controlled highway.
The project shall entail a 3+3 car lanes and a 2 lane dedicated Metro Bus corridor placed on embankment retained by RCC retaining walls, a 2-lane service road on both sides, two flyovers including one at Shahdara Morr and the other one on Railway Line at Imamia Colony, one underpass at Shahdara Morr to cater for Jaranwala-Lahore traffic movement, an at-grade roundabout at Shahdara Morr, construction of four new bus stations (including a terminal point) and remodelling of one existing bus station.
The project will be executed under Public Private Partnership mode under the Punjab Public Private Partnership Act 2014. Under this arrangement, the private partner will be required to design, engineer, finance, construct, maintain and operate the Express-way for a period of 25 years in exchange for a concession to exclusively collect tolls on the Express-way.
