Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated Kahna flyover.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the chief minister said that the 1.5 km long flyover was constructed in a record period and Rs 3 billion were saved through private investment in this public welfare project which would be spent on education, health and water schemes.

This is the first project constructed through private investment on BOT basis under public private partnership in the province, he maintained. “The contractor carried out work on the project speedily and completed it before the stipulated period, he said.

The chief minister also announced to reduce toll of flyover for vehicles from Rs 35 to Rs 30. He also announced that no toll fee would be charged from local people as they would be issued free passes to travel without any fee on the flyover.

The flyover is 100 feet wide and consists of two lanes which will benefit around 9,000 comuters daily. Six feet wide footpaths have also been constructed on both sides for the pedestrians.

The chief minister congratulated local people of the area, former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Cheema, Nabeel Javed, Lahore commissioner, Lahore DCO and other institutions concerned on completion of flyover in a record period.

He said that an agreement had been signed with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for the construction of south part of Lahore Ring Road on BOT basis and its construction would be completed by August 14 2017 with a total outlay of Rs 25 billion.

CM Shhbaz said it was responsibility of contractors working on projects to bring new machinery and equipment for development projects so that these schemes could be completed with high quality in a record period.

Referring to his political opponents, the chief minister said that some elements were opposing the development projects and were trying to create hindrance in the way of development projects. He said that the PML-N government had put the country on path of progress.

He said it was amazing that the persons involved in corruption were raising slogans of accountability. He said that every penny would be recovered from those who looted the country ruthlessly.

The chief minister said that time had come for holding those accountable who deposited the looted national wealth in Swiss banks or purchased properties in Dubai. Later, the chief minister inaugurated took a round of flyover on his vehicle. He also appreciated authorities concerned on completion of the flyover.