LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to revive the land acquisition process for the Gulberg-Babu Sabu elevated expressway project in Lahore, a major urban infrastructure initiative.
The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has been directed to prioritize the completion of the project.
According to sources, the project was halted in 2017 due to resistance from residents and issues related to insufficient funds.
The cost of the project has undergone a substantial increase, soaring from Rs. 18 billion to Rs. 85 billion, according to reports.
Despite the challenges faced, authorities are determined to move forward with the project and ensure its successful completion.
Additionally, to resume the land acquisition process, the LDA has also initiated contact with the affected landowners, most of whom had their properties marked and enlisted for acquisition in 2016 under the Land Acquisition Act.
The LDA is urging these individuals to visit their offices or the respective revenue department officers to receive the compensation that was determined in 2016.
The land acquisition process was initially launched in 2016, and the final award under the land acquisition act was announced in 2017.
Inordinate delays in Elevated Expressway escalate project cost. However, a significant number of landowners rejected the compensation offered by the government, as they demanded a package similar to the generous compensation provided to those affected by the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project.
Unfortunately, the government did not meet their demands, leading to the shelving of the project in 2017.
In early 2022, the PTI government began considering the resumption of the scheme, and in the last quarter of the year, the Parvez Elahi-led Punjab government gave the green light to proceed.
Currently, the revised PC-1 of the project, valued at Rs. 85 billion, is under discussion in the Punjab Planning & Development Department.
The government has also reached out to the Election Commission of Pakistan to seek approval for the project’s launch.
Lahore Commissioner/LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa chaired a meeting on Saturday to discuss the project and directed the concerned officers to expedite the process.
He emphasized the need for a streamlined approach by establishing a one-window counter at the LDA to facilitate landowners in receiving their compensation.
Randhawa viewed the project as a game-changer for Lahore, as it would provide residents with seamless access to the motorway within 8 to 10 minutes from Gulberg.
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