LAHORE - The PML-N central leader and Member National Assembly (MNA) Hamza Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday inaugurated the construction work on Azadi Chowk Interchange and New Circular Road project. This project will be completed during the current year at a cost of Rs 5.35 billion.
Vice Chairman LDA Khawaja Ahmed Hasaan, DG LDA Ahad Khan Cheema, Members Assembly Malik Riaz, Bilal Yasin, Mian Marghoob and Commissioner Lahore Rashid Langrial were present at the inaugural ceremony held at Azadi Chowk. DG LDA Ahad Khan Cheema gave a detailed briefing to Hamza Shahbaz regarding the project.
Talking to media, Hamza Shahbaz said completion of Azadi Chowk Interchange and New Circular Road Project would help smooth traffic flow from Niazi Chowk to Bhati Chowk and save time of the people coming in and going out of Lahore due to signal free road entering the provincial metropolis. He said that not only the Lahore Metro Bus Service would run more smoothly with the completion of aforementioned project but local citizens would also be facilitated. He said 670 meter long flyover would start from Taxali Gate and end at Timber Market.
Under the project, the location of Azadi Chowk will be changed and shifted to north of Minar-e-Pakistan, Ravi Chargha Road, Maulana Ahmed Ali Road. Hamza said Azadi Chowk Interchange Project had been handed over to the team headed by Director General LDA Ahad Khan Cheema which had completed metro bus service project. According to the project, new Circular Road will start from Maulana Ahmed Ali Road and will be linked to Circular Road by passing through Miner-e-Pakistan lake site towards Sports Complex set up at Iqbal Park and Lari Adda from Badami Bagh to Masti Gate.
Replying to the questions of media, Hamza said lease period of petrol stations situated at the route of the project had already been expired since long and this land was the property of Punjab government. He said timely compensation would be paid in a transparent manner to the affectees of the project and a committee had been constituted for this purpose. Answering another question, Hamza said Taliban had 56 groups and government would deal with those not willing to hold dialogue as per Constitution and law. To another question, Hamza said Imran Khan himself was confused and he should pay attention to the matters of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa instead of criticising others.
Later, Hamza also reviewed the project of construction of dual road linking Ferozpur Road to Multan Road at LOS on Ferozpur Road. This project costing Rs. 3.84 billion will be completed at the end of current year.