Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday the Walton Flyover would help save Rs5 billion in fuel annually.
“The flyover has been built in just two months. High quality standards and transparency have been ensured,” the chief minister told the media after inaugurating the project.
He said the flyover was a step towards making Ferozepur Road signal-free. He said no compromise would be made on the quality of materials and workmanship for development projects.
He said the first phase of making Ferozepur Road signal-free had been completed with the construction of the flyover. He said work was underway on the second project, to be completed in July.
“The way work is progressing, it seems the project will be completed in June.”
He said the flyover would help streamline traffic on Ferozepur Road and save driving time. He said it would be particularly helpful for those visiting General Hospital and Children’s Hospital.
Sharif said time was money and should not be wasted. He said public welfare projects should be completed in time.
He said the 872-metre flyover had been built in 62 days at a cost of Rs700 million.
“This has been made possible through ensuring better coordination between the political leadership and agencies working on the project.”
He said during his last term Kalma Chowk flyover had been built in just four months and the Metro Bus project in 11 months.
The chief minister said energy projects would also be executed at a healthy pace.
He said credit for early completion of the flyover went to Punjab Assembly members Ramazan Siddique Bhatti and Mian Naseer, the Lahore Development Authority, National Engineering Services Pakistan (the consultants) and those who had worked day and night.
The chief minister also thanked the chief secretary, the Planning and Development chairman, the commissioner, the district coordination officer and the chief traffic officer for their contributions to the project.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2014.