The Punjab government has awarded contract of construction of southern loop of Lahore Ring Road to Frontier Works Organization (FWO) here on Saturday. Commissioner Lahore Division and Chairperson Lahore Ring Road Authority, Abdullah Khan Sumbal has said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed FWO to complete southern loop of Lahore Ring Road within one year. Due to special interest of the Punjab Chief Minister, the Punjab government has succeeded in saving 1.70 billion rupees in this contract, he added.
He said that under public-private partnership, the Punjab government has played its due role in viability gap financing in the construction of 30-kg long southern loop convinced FWO to complete construction work in 4.25 billion rupees instead of 5.90 billion rupees.
Abdullah Khan Sumbal further said that southern loop of Lahore Ring Road consists of three sub-loops including southern-I, II and III. FWO will first start work on I and II loops which is 22-kilometre long, he added. He said that this agreement has been given to FWO on the basis of BOT (build, operate and transfer) under public-private partnership. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has specially directed to complete southern loop of Lahore Ring Road within the stipulated period and ensure high standard. It is worth mention the Punjab government has made savings of 215 billion rupees in different mega projects and saving of 1.7 billion rupees in Ring Road Project is part of campaign of the chief minister.