Delay in completion of Thokar project upsets public

LAHORE:Delay in the completion of remodeling of Thokar entry/exit point by the Lahore Development Authority’s engineering wing is causing serious inconvenience for the citizens, besides generation of fugitive dust (PM 2.5), a major cause of smog and deteriorating AQI in the City.

The project started in August with the aim to improve the entrance and exit points of the provincial capital. At that time, LDA Director General Tahir Farooq visited the Thokar Niaz Baig entrance/exit point where LDA Chief Engineer Asrar Saeed and Nespak officers gave him a briefing on the proposed design.

It is pertinent to mention that the project, which was supposed to be completed in two months is still incomplete, causing long traffic jams, especially at peak times. The junction was also used by VIP movement and traffic jams at this point can be a potential security threat. The office of NAB is also situated nearby. The delay in the project besides causing cost escalation has also raised the question that why the LDA’s engineering wing didn’t charge any penalty to the project contractor for not completing the project in the stipulated time.

Some local residents and frequent travellers while talking to The News appealed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ask the LDA about the delay in this project where no major construction work was involved.

On Tuesday, LDA DG Tahir Farooq along with Deputy Commissioner Lahore Syed Musa Raza visited Thokar Entry/Exit junction where the Project Director gave a briefing about the ongoing work. The DG said that the remodeling and expansion of Thokar Entry Point was providing great convenience to the citizens. He directed the officers concerned to complete the ongoing work by the end of this month.

Earlier, both the officers visited the Tepa head office where Chief Engineer TEPA Iqrar Hussain gave a briefing about the ongoing projects and said that Tepa was remodeling the busiest points of the city to make traffic flow efficient.

The DG, while giving instructions, said that cleaning and repair of traffic signboards installed in the city should be ensured. Tepa should take IT-based measures to ensure implementation of traffic laws, he said.