Seven development projects in Lahore hit snags

[Salman]

*CDGL sources say projects’ execution delayed because govt officers want to hire contractors of their choice
*EDO Finance Rana Saleem says funds have been allocated for projects and work will soon commence

Seven mega projects for Lahore city have hit snags despite release of Rs 65 billion for the purpose as officials concerned want to give the contracts to their blue-eyed contractors, leading to a rift between the officers and ultimately a delay in execution of the projects, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Rs 345 billion were earmarked in the budget for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 for development projects in Punjab, including 20 mega projects in Lahore. The Government of Punjab has released Rs 65 billion to the departments concerned for work on seven mega projects, mainly for urban development and road networks in Lahore.

According to sources in the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), departmental officers are at loggerheads as each officer wants to give the projects’ tenders to his preferred contractors.

The projects being delayed include Expressway from Shahdara to Kala Shah Kaku, Mohlanwal-Sharaqpur Bypass, construction of modernised bus terminals from Gajju Mata to Thokar Niaz Baig, at Railway Station and Shahdara, conversion of street lights to LEDs and construction of warehouses for wheat storage.

These projects were to be completed by the CDGL, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) and Transport Department via public-private partnership, the sources said.

“But even PC 1 for these seven projects has not been prepared yet,” the sources said, putting the onus of the delay on the aforementioned departments’ officers.

NO WORK EVEN AFTER PC 1:

The sources said that the Planning Department has allocated Rs 68 billion for those projects for which PC 1 has been approved.

“But work has not yet started on these projects either because officers want to give the tenders to the contractors of their choice,” they said.

“The Finance Department has transferred funds to the departments concerned but around 12 departments, including departments of schools and higher education, wild life, tourism, social protection, public buildings, urban development, welfare and Baitul Maal, fisheries, food, livestock, and environmental protection, have not yet completed their development objectives,” the sources said.

The 20 developmental projects for which funds have been released include Lahore Ring Road project, construction of bridge on River Ravi and on railway crossing in Defence, construction of a link road in University of the Punjab and widening of Canal Bank Road, among others.

WHAT OFFICIALS SAY:

A CDGL spokesman told Pakistan Today that officers of the departments concerned have informed CDGL that they are preparing feasibility reports of these projects and PC 1 would be issued soon.

Meanwhile, EDO Finance Rana Saleem denied that the delay in executing the projects was because of allotting the projects to blue-eyed contractors.

“All funds are being released for development projects and work on them will commence soon,” he added.