Punjab CM opens Akbar Chowk flyovers project

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar Flyovers project on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister greeted the officials of civic bodies and all the crew associated with the project on its completion.

The fourth mega project in Lahore has been completed before the deadline, he said, adding that its stipulated time was 10 months but it has been completed in less than 7 months.

He said the court issued a 45-day stay order too while in the design of two flyovers, trees had to be cut and it took about 15 days to redesign it to save trees. No tree was cut but additional trees were planted, the CM maintained.

Despite heavy rains this year, the project has been opened for traffic ahead of schedule. The 2.2 km flyovers and 10 protected U-turns have been constructed under the project making a signal-free corridor from Wahdat Road to Pico Road.

Earlier, the Bedian underpass, Shahdara flyovers and Cavalry underpass were completed in record time and opened for traffic. The chief minister said that the long-standing traffic problem in the vicinity.

LDA team and contractor have worked hard and accomplished the tough task as the project was in the middle of a public settlement, he stressed, adding that the project will provide facilities for 7-8 major areas. Work has started on College Road, and will be completed in the next few days.

The chief minister shared with the media the story of his visit to the Kacha area where the provincial police fought off outlaws, saying. “Three of our police officers embraced martyrdom. I attended the funeral of one of them.

“Our cops are showing bravery and courage to establish the writ of the state. Nineteen brave police fought off up to 80 robbers, killing them and making the rest flee.”

Reiterating his team’s resolve to ensure better public service delivery, the CM said: “We do not like to get our photos published in newspapers. We are doing our duties.  None of us wanted votes. None of us has contested the election

“We have no desire for publicity, we are just trying to ensure better public service delivery. In the remote areas of Rahim Yar Khan, hospitals which have not been upgraded for 30-40 years are being upgraded. My team is doing the best.”

The ongoing projects will be completed at the earliest, he said adding that the upgradation of hospitals will be completed by December

Provincial Ministers Mansoor Qadir, Azfar Ali Nasir, Bilal Afzal and senior officials of LDA and other department concerns were also present