The caretaker Punjab government has announced the date for inauguration of Kalma Chowk Underpass. As per a media report, Punjab Caretaker Minister for Communication, Works and Excise, Bilal Afzal announced that the underpass will be opened for public and traffic on March 23, Pakistan Day.
The announcement was made during a review meeting for the Central Business District (CBD) Punjab Boulevard and Underpass projects. CBD Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Imran Amin and Chief Engineer Riaz Hussain updated the minister on the work’s progress. The minister stated that the project is being completed as per all international safety standards and requirements.
During the meeting, Afzal commended the lack of accidents and quality control issues during this mega construction project. He also reviewed the ongoing work and construction activities on-site and directed the relevant authorities to ensure a cohesive working relationship for the timely completion of the project.
The minister advised NESPAK officials to provide all necessary assistance in completing the project and accomplishing the objectives of the underpass. Earlier, it was announced that Ali Zeb Road underpass would be completed by March 19 and the road will be carpeted on March 20.
3 Lanes of Kalma Chowk Opened
Despite the original completion date being scheduled for June 2023, the NLC has been working tirelessly to accelerate the project’s pace and has completed three of the five lanes on March 3, 2020.
Due to the direction of the provincial government, the NLC was able to facilitate the movement of dense traffic 24/7, allowing them to push forward with the underpass’s construction at an unprecedented pace. While there was still work to be done on the remaining two lanes of Kalma Chowk, the partial opening of the underpass was a huge win for commuters, who benefited from reduced travel times and less congestion. However, the NLC urged motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and observe the speed limit to prevent any untoward incidents during this ongoing construction phase.
