Opening Kalma Chowk Underpass for Traffic in Record Time - An Impressive Achievement by CBD Punjab

24-Feb-2023

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The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), has achieved a noteworthy feat by making both lanes of the Kalma Chowk Underpass functional in a record-breaking time of just two and a half months. This underpass, the longest in Pakistan, was made available for traffic before PSL 8 Lahore matches started. The project was entirely funded by CBD Punjab. The event was graced by the presence of Chief Minister Punjab, Mr. Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation, Communication, and Works Punjab, Mr. Bilal Afzal, Commissioner Lahore, Mr. Mohammed Ali Randhawa, COO PCBDDA, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, Executive Director Technical PCBDDA, Mr. Riaz Hussain, Executive Director Commercial, Mr. Mohammed Omer, Technical team of PCBDDA, staff members of PCBDDA, NLC, and other government officials. The technical team of CBD Punjab worked tirelessly, day and night, to complete the impossible task of ensuring that the underpass was ready for use. The team's primary goal was to provide maximum relief to the public and reduce hindrances in the daily commute of the citizens of Lahore, as directed by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi. The team has worked at a pace of almost 50 beam piles per day. During a project briefing, the Executive Director Technical PCBDDA, Mr. Riaz Hussain, explained that the existing water storage tank at Kalma Chowk Underpass is inadequate to handle an additional estimated 14 cusec rainwater from the two new barrels. To address this, the authority plans to build a storage tank with a capacity of 300,000 gallons at Saint Mary Park. This water will be filtered and reused for various purposes, particularly for irrigation of parks and horticulture. It will substantially impact the environment by controlling water wastage, soil erosion, and water pollution and reducing inherent flooding issues. The water storage tank will provide a reliable water supply during emergencies and will also help to replenish groundwater levels. The COO of CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, expressed his delight and announced that both lanes of the underpass were open for traffic before the PSL 8 matches in Lahore, as per the authority's commitment to timely completion of the project. He also acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the technical team, along with the official contractor, National Logistic Cell (NLC), in utilizing all available resources to ensure that both lanes of the underpass were functional for traffic. CBD Punjab's accomplishment of making both lanes of the Kalma Chowk Underpass functional is a testament to its commitment to providing high-quality infrastructure for the public. The Executive Director Technical of CBD Punjab, Mr. Riaz Hussain, also acknowledged the remarkable job done by the technical team and NLC in making Kalma Chowk Underpass functional before the given timeframe.