Kahna-Defence flyover accord inked

LAHORE
AGREEMENT for construction of a flyover at Kahna Railway Crossing in Lahore on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis with private investment, was signed between Lahore Development Authority and a private company here Friday.
The agreement was first of its kind among the development projects launched recently in Punjab, LDA officials said, adding that LDA DG Ahad Khan Cheema signed the agreement at LDA Office, Johar Town. This agreement was a manifestation of trust and confidence of private investors in Lahore Development Authority as well as the Punjab government as the private company would construct the 1.5km-long flyover at Kahna Kacha-Defence Road, Railway Crossing with a cost of Rs3billion under this agreement.
The two lanes dual carriageway will be 50 feet wide. Walkways will also be constructed for pedestrians on both sides of the flyover.
The private company will bear 100 percent cost of construction of this project while LDA will be responsible for provision of land and shifting of utility services for this purpose. An average of 9,000 vehicles will daily pass through this flyover and the private company will recover its investment by collecting toll tax from the vehicles passing through the flyover during a span of 25 years.
Defence Road is a major link between Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozepur Road and Defence Housing Society. Kahna Railway Crossing being the main railway crossing, witnesses frequent gate closures to allow trains to pass due to which the Defence Road traffic braves long delays causing waste of precious time of passengers besides increasing fuel consumption.
The flyover will ease the traffic flow at this junction. It will benefit the residents of newly-developed private housing schemes in south of Lahore. It will also provide approach to the newly-developed vegetable and fruit market besides facilitating movement towards Metro Bus Service starting point at Gajjumatta and will save time and fuel.