The government has postponed the pilot project for the renovation of the Royal Trail in the Walled City, Planning and Development (P&D) Department officials told Daily Times on Tuesday. The project was proposed to begin in December.

Technical flaws had been identified in the Rs 500 million project, officials said, and the department “did not want to take a risk”.

A P&D Department official said the delay could increase the cost of the project from Rs 500 million to Rs 700 million.

The World Bank (WB), he said, had asked the government to delegate the project to one contractor, who could be held accountable. The government told the WB that it was not possible, he said, as various departments including WASA and WAPDA were involved in the project. The government proposed hiring a consultant to coordinate various departments, he said. “A consultant for this job has not yet been hired,” he added.

He said encroachments along the road were the main hurdle in the project. The government, he said, was not ready to remove the encroachments forcibly. “Political pressure can be a hindrance,” he said.

Sustainable Development Project of Walled City Lahore (SDPWCL) director Muhammad Zameer said underground telephone and electricity wires would preserve the Walled City’s historical appearance. A wall would be built in front of historical buildings before underground work began, so that buildings might not collapse. The project could not be given to private contractors, he said, and government departments would implement the project.

SDPWCL director Aqeel Ansari said the department had planned the project keeping in mind the complications involved in its implementation. He neither denied nor confirmed the delay in the project. “The project will be launched after planning on all technical complications.”

The pilot project, designed by the Project Management Unit (PMU), precedes the full Walled City facelift project.

The Royal Trail (Shahi Guzargah) is a 1.6-kilometre street from Delhi Gate to Masti Gate through the Lahore Fort. Mogul emperors arriving from Delhi used the trail to reach Badshahi Masjid.

Numerous architectural monuments are situated along the trail – the Royal Bath (Shahi Hamam), Maryam Zamani Masjid, Wazir Khan Masjid and Sunehri Masjid.