Islamabad: CDA misses another deadline to open underpass

[Naveed Yaseen]

Muhammad Anis
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) missed yet another deadline to open Faisal Avenue underpass at Citibank Chowk.

Despite clear-cut directives from CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari, the Engineering wing of the authority failed to implement orders to open the underpass by September 15. Lashari in his directives, while extending deadline, had asked the construction firm to make underpass open for traffic by September 15.

It has been learnt that the construction company had almost completed its task by making the road of underpass ready for carpeting but the Machinery Pool Organization (MPO) of civic body was yet to move its machinery to give final touches to the project.

Under agreement, the MPO was responsible for carpeting road of the underpass by putting the final layers. "If MPO moves machinery, it is matter of two to three days to open the underpass for traffic," a CDA official told 'The News'.

The sources said as the concerned officials of engineering wing have not been able to coordinate with MPO officials, therefore, so far the carpeting work of 1,050-meter long road could be commenced.

Meanwhile, the contractor of the project -- M/s Matracon -- on Wednesday started installation of streetlight poles, which would also take a few days to complete.

Director General Works Abdul Jabbar Malano was not available for comments but another official said now there was no major hurdle in accomplishing the task and it is matter of few days when the traffic would start moving at the underpass. The official said the roundabout would also be opened for traffic along with the underpass.

The construction firm started work on the project in the first week of June, last year. The project faced many hurdles including sudden rise in cost of construction mater like steel iron, cement, heavy rains and non-shifting of utility lines from the site.

The construction company had also been given deadline of December 31 to make flyover project ready. "We are using pre-caste technology to ensure stability to flyover and its timely completion," an official said.

Meanwhile, the project for beautification of underpass of the project was still waiting approval of the CDA board.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=136555