All wiring on The Mall will be moved underground in the next two months as part of the Dilkash Lahore Project, according to District Coordination Officer Naseem Sadiq.
The project began two days ago, with the first step to move electricity and cable wiring between GPO Chowk and Charring Cross. The cable television wiring will be moved first, at a cost of Rs6 million, with seven cable companies funding the project.
DCO Sadiq said that this would take another ten days. He said that electricity lines would be moved in about two months. He said that Wapda had told the city government that the electricity rewiring would cost about Rs12 million. All electricity poles would be removed from the road, he said.
The city government will ask businesses on The Mall to contribute funds. The DCO added that the city government aimed to move wiring all over the city underground.
The Dilkash Lahore Project is aimed at beautifying the city, particularly its older neighbourhoods. Eight historic buildings on The Mall are being restored as part of the project.
Earlier, shops and plazas on the road were forced to remove most of their advertising boards.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2013.