The Lahore Development Authority has started another round of upgradation work on nine Lahore underpasses along Canal Bank Road, only a few years after around Rs. 300 million was spent on renovating the same structures. The fresh work has once again raised questions about the quality and durability of earlier projects carried out in the provincial capital.
The previous renovation was carried out by the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency, better known as TEPA. Under that project, the old tiles on the walls of the underpasses were removed and replaced with a rock-wall finish that was supposed to look modern and last much longer than the old design.
At the time, TEPA officials claimed that the new treatment would have a longer life and would reduce annual repair and maintenance costs. However, within three years, the rock-wall finish had started deteriorating at several underpasses, and many of the decorative lights installed during the renovation were stolen. The underpasses were later repainted, which added to the doubts about the earlier work.
List of 9 Lahore Underpasses Being Upgraded
The nine underpasses that were part of the earlier Rs. 300 million project include the Doctor’s Hospital Underpass, Jinnah Hospital Underpass, Punjab University Underpass, Muslim Town Underpass and Ferozepur Road Underpass. The list also includes the FC College Underpass, Jail Road Underpass, Mall Road Underpass and Dharampura Underpass.
These underpasses sit along Canal Bank Road, one of the busiest corridors in Lahore. Thousands of vehicles use the route every day to travel between Thokar Niaz Baig, Johar Town, Gulberg, the Mall and the eastern parts of the city. Because the road is signal-free for long stretches, the condition of its underpasses has a direct effect on traffic flow and commuter safety.
Poor lighting, damaged walls and broken road surfaces in underpasses can lead to accidents, especially at night and during the rainy season when water often collects at low points. Commuters have long demanded better maintenance, proper drainage and brighter lighting in these structures.
LDA Orders Durable and High-Quality Work
The latest upgradation work was reviewed during a meeting of the LDA Engineering Wing chaired by LDA Director General Tahir Farooq. Officials informed the meeting that repair and restoration work was progressing on underpasses on both sides of Canal Bank Road from Thokar Niaz Baig to Mall Road.
The ongoing work includes laying fresh asphalt, improving road signage and carrying out other restoration measures to make the underpasses safer and more comfortable for motorists. The LDA DG directed officials to ensure that the work is durable and of high quality so that the city does not have to spend public money on the same structures again within a few years.
Citizens and urban planning experts have welcomed the upgrades but have also called for proper monitoring of contractors and regular maintenance after completion. They say that fixing responsibility for poor-quality work is important to avoid a repeat of the earlier project, where millions of rupees were spent on a finish that did not last. Commuters using Canal Bank Road may face minor diversions while the work continues in the coming weeks.
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