Flyover, underpasses planned at Kalma Chowk

Kalma Underpass is an underpass where east-west Main Boulevard Garden Town and Main

Boulevard Gulberg join under north-south Ferozepur Road, connecting two southern suburbs
of Lahore, Pakistan.

Kalma Chowk Flyover is a flyover and a road bridge passing over the main square of Lahore. It
is passing through the Kalma Chowk. This flyover was made due to the heavy traffic on the
Ferozepur Road. The project was started by the Punjab government on December 11, 2011 and
completed in a record period, in 80 days.
In a bid to provide better transport facilities to the citizens and to keep the traffic flow smooth, it
has been decided to construct a flyover and underpasses at Kalma Chowk. This project was
initiated by previous Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. A decision in this regard
was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Shahbaz Sharif.
The Punjab Government considered public difficulties and decided to construct an underpass
from Gulberg to Garden Town, including four signal-free U-turn lanes, to improve traffic flow.
An estimated 150,000 vehicles would benefit each day from the construction of the underpass
and signal-free U-turns. The project was initiated on 11 December 2012, with a mobilization
period of ten days. The actual date of commencement was 21 December 2012. the project will be
made attractive through horticulture, planting of trees by the road side. It was directed to
complete the project at the earliest making use of all possible sources. Earlier, Communication
and Works secretary and NESPAK officials briefed the project estimates of the flyover and
underpasses at Kalma Chowk.
Project mission and objective

This project consisted of a construction of an underpass with two bores, one for each
carriageway, with variable lengths of ramps. In addition, two single span bridges have been
constructed –one on each side of the underpass. These bridges allow traffic to take a U-turn. The
construction of the underpass will not only give relief to traffic but also allow smooth running of
the Metro bus (Lahore), with minimum possible delays at the crossing. Before undertaking the
development of the underpass, a model study of the traffic diversion plan was conducted to help
in arriving at a plan capable of meeting every eventuality. A large number of information and
warning signboards, as well as traffic police, were placed to guide the road users

Work Breakdown structure

The project was envisioned by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Feb 26, the communication and
works department forwarded on March 1 a summary to the planning and development
department, which added a positive note the following day and sent it to the finance
department.The summary was fine-tuned by the finance department on March 4 and forwarded
to the chief minister who approved and inaugurated the project the following day after modifying
the Standard Form of Contract, relaxing budget and reporting classification codesbesides
departmental financial rules and waiving provincial procurement rules, said the official.The CM
had fixed Jan 31 as a deadline for the completion of the project, however, the authorities could
not complete it on time due to commitment to city‟s other mega project, the Metro Bus System.
Officials said the underpasses‟ project had been launched in the first week of December
2012.“The underpasses have been built on full depth, as even heavy traffic, including buses and
trucks, can go through them,” Tepa Chief Engineer Saeed Akhtar told Dawn..

Project Highlights.

Type Description

Name Kalma Underpass, Lahore

Executing agency LDA – TEPA

Consultant NESPAK[2] – ECSP JV[1]

Contractor Habib Construction Service and IKAN JV

Total length of project 3.0 km

underpass length with ramps 1070 meters

95 meters (main)
Barrel length
30 + 45 meters (U-turns)

Height of underpass 5.1 meters

Number of lanes 4+3
Barrel width 15.3 meters and 12 meters (each)
Green planter 3' wide on either side of ramp
Central green planter 5.2 meters
Commencement date 11 December 2012
Completion date 3 March 2013
Time for completion 82 days
Project cost Rs. 1746 million
Vehicles benefited per day 150,000

Project Initiation
Selection of The Project
The Kalma Chowk intersection is one of the busiest in Lahore, Pakistan, with traffic volume
often reaching as many as 393,000 vehicles per day. Two major roads—Ferozepur Road and the
joining of Main Boulevard Garden Town (a.k.a. Barket Market Road) and Main
Boulevard Gulberg (a.k.a. Liberty Market Road)—meet at this junction. Long lines were
common during peak traffic times, and a vehicle would have to wait for up to eight minutes.The
recent inception of Metrobus, a popular mode of transportation in Lahore, made further
improvements necessary at the Kalma Chowk junction.
The Punjab Government considered these public difficulties and decided to construct an
underpass from Gulberg to Garden Town, including four signal-free U-turn lanes, to improve
traffic flow. An estimated 150,000 vehicles would benefit each day from the construction of the
underpass and signal-free U-turns. The project was initiated on 11 December 2012, with a
mobilization period of ten days. The actual date of commencement was 21 December 2012. In
spite of inclement weather and several landslides due to rainfall, the project was completed in
eighty days. Currently, it is the longest underpass in Pakistan, with a full height of 5.1 meters (17
feet) and a structural integrity capable of supporting light and heavy vehicles alike.
Planning of the project
Project planning called for the construction of an underpass with two bores, one for each
direction of traffic or carriageway, with ramps of varying length. Two single span bridges were
also to be constructed, one on each side of the main overpass. These bridges would allow traffic
to take signal-free U-turns. During construction, a large number of traffic control signs and
traffic police were placed at the intersection to guide drivers.
Design of the project
The project involved construction of two bores of varying width along the Barket Market–
Liberty Market Road. The underpass has on/off ramps of varying length, with retaining walls of
varying height. The underpass structure is over piles, and piles have also been used as a retaining
structure. The two bores are separated by retaining walls in the underpass in such a way that four
retaining walls frame each bore.[clarification needed] The carriageways on the Liberty side are
separated by a green belt, while the carriageways on the Barket Market side are separated by a
retaining wall. The lengths of the on/off-ramps on the Barket Market side vary. In addition, four
single span bridges have been connected to ramps to facilitate making U-turns. On the Barket
Market side, with three of the four bridges, double U-turns are facilitated. The bridges are on
spread footing with precast prestressed concrete girders. Service roads and slip roads have been
provided at grade. A sump pump was installed on the Liberty-side ramp to prevent rain water
from flooding the area of the underpass. Drains were made for its disposal.
Project manager and constructor
This project is Constructed by Habib Construction Services and IKAN JV.

Project planning
Schedule of the project
The government aim to is to lower down public difficulties and decided to construct an
underpass from Gulberg to Garden Town, including four signal-free U-turn lanes, to improve
traffic flow. It named as kalma underpass project from gulberg to garden town.

 Mainly the project was completed in eighty days

 Its commencement date was 11 December 2012
 Its Completion date was 3 March 2013
 The Time for completion was 82 days
 Total Vehicles benefited per day is 150,000
 Opened on 3 March 2013

Cost of the project

 The total cost of the project is Rs. 1746 million.