Lahore: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to upgrade Pine Avenue, one of Lahore’s fastest-growing commercial and business corridors, with a proposed underpass at Shanu Baba Chowk as its centerpiece.
According to LDA Director General Tahir Farooq, the authority has submitted the underpass project to the Punjab government for approval under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2026-27.
The proposed underpass will be constructed on Pine Avenue at the intersection with New Defence Road, replacing the existing roundabout at Shanu Baba Chowk. The project is aimed at improving traffic flow along the busy corridor and easing congestion at a key junction linking several residential and commercial areas.
Farooq said the underpass has been planned on Pine Avenue following technical assessments, while alternative proposals involving New Defence Road may be examined separately.
In addition to the underpass, the LDA is planning a series of improvements along Pine Avenue, including road widening, pedestrian facilities, landscaping and traffic management measures.
The authority intends to remove concrete dividers separating service roads from the main carriageway on selected stretches, increasing road capacity from six to eight lanes. Pedestrian bridges are also planned near the under-construction Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital and another location along the avenue to improve public safety.
Other proposed measures include the installation of pedestrian-friendly traffic signals, speed-calming infrastructure, green belts and public seating areas.
The LDA chief said the planned interventions are intended to accommodate rising traffic volumes and support the corridor’s growing economic significance as new residential, commercial and institutional developments continue to emerge along Pine Avenue.
Separately, the authority has also proposed a uniform commercialisation framework for the corridor aimed at regulating future commercial activity and improving urban planning standards. The proposal is currently under consideration by the LDA and relevant authorities.
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