Land acquisition procedure for the Gulberg Elevated Motorway resumes
According to a June 11 news report, the Punjab government has decided to restart the land acquisition procedure for the Gulberg-Babu Sabu elevated motorway project in Lahore.
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According to the specifics, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has been directed to expedite the completion of this significant urban infrastructure project. In 2017, the procedure was halted for a variety of reasons. The cost of the project has increased substantially from PKR 18 billion to PKR 85 billion.
An LDA officer (whose identity was not disclosed) stated that the agency has begun contacting those whose land, which consists primarily of houses, was identified and listed for acquisition in 2016 under the Land Acquisition Act. These individuals are required to visit the LDA offices or the relevant revenue department officials in order to obtain their 2016 compensation.
In 2016, the process of acquiring 801 kanals of land for the Lahore elevated motorway was restarted, and the final award under the land acquisition act was announced in 2017. While some received compensation, the vast majority rejected it, and those who did receive compensation have not yet turned over their land to the government.
The government began reconsidering the Gulberg-Babu Sabu Motorway project at the beginning of 2022. As a result of the dissolution of the government, all work ceased. The Punjab Planning and Development Department is currently debating the revised project cost estimate of PKR 85 billion. The government has also sent a letter to the Pakistani Election Commission requesting permission to launch this initiative.
According to reports, the LDA is now tasked with completing the land acquisition process, and affected individuals are being exhorted to receive compensation and transfer ownership of their land to the government. Those who have already received compensation but have not yet vacated their properties have been instructed to do so within a specified time frame.
Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Commissioner of Lahore and General Director of the LDA, convened a meeting to discuss this matter and directed the appropriate officers to expedite the procedure. He emphasized the need for a streamlined process at the LDA, with a single-window counter to make it easier for individuals to receive compensation for land they are surrendering to the government. The initiative has the potential to be a game-changer for Lahore and is regarded as an important development for the city.
