Islamabad: CDA takes control of work on Faisal Avenue underpass project

[Naveed Yaseen]

by Muhammad Anis
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Monday took over project of Faisal Avenue underpass to ensure its completion on the eve of Eidul Fitr.

CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari on his arrival from the United States inspected the site of Faisal Avenue underpass and directed the officials of engineering wing to immediately take over the project and open the underpass on the eve of Eid.

The sources said the chairman directed Member Engineering Tahir Shamshad and Director General Works Abdul Jabbar Malano to mobilise all the machinery of Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) so that the faithful face no difficulty in reaching Faisal Mosque to offer Eid prayers by crossing the underpass.

A CDA official accompanying Lashari told ‘The News’ that Lashari expressed his anger that the extended deadline of September 30 was unlikely to be met and still five to six days work was left.

The official said that MPO wing of CDA was executing carpeting work but the cost on this work would be deducted from payment to be made to the contractor.

The official said they were focusing on implementing orders of the chairman and the matter regarding delay in completion of work with contractor would be resolved later. “We are considering to impose penalty on the construction firm but it will be decided later after fixing the responsibility,” he said.

It has been learnt that Lashari during his visit also observed that work had not been completed despite time and again extension in deadline.

It maybe pointed out here that at ground-breaking ceremony of Zero Point Interchange Chairman Kamran Lashari made a commitment before Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in presence of media that the Faisal Avenue underpass would be opened for traffic before Eidul Fitr, while flyover would be completed by Eidul Azha.

The CDA chief during his visit also directed the officials to strictly monitor progress of work on flyover.DG Works Malano when contacted said he would personally monitor work on underpass day and night and he might have to spend his Eid in Islamabad instead of going to his native home in Sindh province.

On the other hand it has been learnt that the contractor complains of getting late payments of bills from the engineering wing besides non-cooperation from the Islamabad Traffic Police during carrying out work on the flyover.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=138821