LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved the construction of an underground parking plaza in the busy Neela Gumbad area of Lahore.
According to officials, the project will cost over Rs2.24 billion and will be built on 16 kanals of land, most of which will be taken from the existing park.
The three-storey underground facility will provide parking space for 374 cars and 790 motorcycles. It will be a state-of-the-art plaza equipped with a modern automated parking management system.
The construction of the project has been assigned to TEPA, while the Walled City Authority will handle landscaping and the restoration of Neela Gumbad.
The new parking plaza is expected to ease congestion on nearby roads and provide much-needed relief to shopkeepers and traders in Neela Gumbad, New Anarkali, and surrounding areas.
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The project was approved in a recent meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP) following a proposal from the Local Government Department. Authorities said the new facility will not only help improve the traffic system but also offer citizens a safe and organized parking solution.
Earlier in April 2025, the Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department finalized a mega plan to protect heritage and promote tourism in Lahore.
This included restoring ancient gates of the Walled City, building a 7km-long rampart, reviving the heritage zone, and developing underground parking lots in old city areas like Bhati Gate, Shah Alam Market, Mochi Gate, Delhi Gate, and Sheranwala Gate.
The department also plans to restore the historical Circular Garden, parts of which still survive as greenbelts but have largely been encroached by markets.
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The project was originally proposed by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) and was reviewed and approved by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who directed the early completion of the work with full funding support.
A departmental meeting chaired by Secretary Mian Shakeel approved 12 PC-1s for these projects, worth around Rs10 billion, and a survey of the heritage zone covering The Mall, Anarkali, Neela Gumbad, and nearby areas has already been completed.
Officials said that the walled city had been divided into six zones for conservation, and designs are being studied to restore the gates to their original form. Once completed, these projects are expected to give a new and pleasant look to the historical markets and streets of Lahore.
