Rehabilitation from Kotwali Chowk to Sonehri Mosque in progress

LAHORE: The rehabilitation work on the facades of the buildings and improvement of the infrastructure facilities in walled city’s area from Chowk Kotwali to Sonehri mosque in under process by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) whereas this project is also known as Package 4 of the Royal Trail Project, Pakistan Today learnt.

An amount of Rs. 315 million rupees has been allocated by the Government of Punjab for the mega project. The work has been started and will be completed in March 2022.

According to the details provided by the WCLA official, the facade of almost 150 buildings will be rehabilitated and 25 streets would be constructed for the betterment of the local community under this project.

Moreover, till present, 30 buildings are being rehabilitated and six streets are under construction whereas the project includes an improved drainage system, clean water supply, telecom, and electricity works.

It was further learnt that the Aga Khan Cultural Services of Pakistan (AKCSP) is the technical partner for this project and lending their technical services throughout the work.

The official informed this scribe that previously in 2015 the rehabilitation work on the package 1 of the Royal Trail from Delhi Gate to Chowk Kotwali was completed which took almost three years. “There were almost 25 streets and the main trail while 790 properties including the shops and houses façade were also uplifted. The entire electricity works were taken under the ground and new slim transformers were placed to avoid any ugly looking poles and electricity wires on the main trail. LTV and HTV poles were removed from the entire area. On the same lines package 2 from Chowk Kotwali to Masti Gate via Dabbi Bazaar was also rehabilitated,” the official explained.

The spokesperson of WCLA Tania Qureshi while commenting on the same said, “The project of Royal Trail has been divided into 4 packages and at present package 4 is being undertaken by the WCLA. Two phases have been completed and the third package includes the improvements of the water works which will be taken up after the completion of package 4. The aim of the project is to provide a healthy and improved lifestyle to the community and for this purpose, for the first time sewerage and stormwater pipers have also been separated so that the community gets a clean drinking water facility”.

Malik Aftab a local resident of the Royal Trail said, “The works have been done in a professional manner and we are very happy with the improved conditions of our houses. Best action on the part of the WCLA was the solid waste management system in the rehabilitated area as we used to face a lot of diseases due to unhygienic streets and rats all around.”

A trader of the Delhi Gate Market Khalid Hussain told this scribe that their shops’ facaed were properly uplifted and the open sewerage system running on both sides of the streets were also covered by WCLA. “During rain there used to be a mess on the main trail but after the rehabilitation work has been done by WCLA we do not face such issues anymore. Our shops look clean and decent now and the best part is that tourists come and visit us now,” he added.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said that the project was imperative to restore the old city’s precious look and feel. “The provision of new infrastructure to the local community is important to give them a better living standard. If you visit the site, you will see that 70 percent of the rehabilitation and infrastructure work is under the ground. Historical and old buildings play a prominent role in highlighting a country’s social and cultural image. Buildings and local community both should be the beneficiaries,” he said