June 15, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1423

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GUJRAT, June 14: The Road Research and Material Testing Institute, Lahore, has indicated use of unapproved material by a construction company, granted six road construction projects in Gujrat.

Sources said that the district officer (roads) concerned had informed the institute through a letter (No 1967/EDO) that M/s Husnain Construction Company was using aggregate from a Margalla quarry and bitumen from Attock Refinery Ltd. The officer had also provided samples.

After examining the sample, the institute reported in its letter No OWO/900, addressed to the executive district officer (works and services) that the aggregate sample had come from a Dina quarry and not from a Margalla quarry.

It said that the contractor had apparently stockpiled aggregate from the Dina quarry and intended to use it for the road projects for which it had been granted the contracts.

The projects include the Rs9.3 million road from Industrial Estate to Ramtlai Chowk, the Rs9.5 million road from Ramtlai Chowk to GTS Chowk and the Rs9.1 million from GTS Chowk to Science College. These road sections are located on the GT Road.

The other three projects involve road sections on Rahman Shaheed Road from Servis Mor to Shadman Chowk (Rs8.8 million), from Shadman Chowk to Haq Street (Rs7.9 million) and from Haq Street to Jail chowk (Rs6.4 million).

The institute warned that use of the Dina quarry aggregate could lead to rapid oxidation of bitumen, resulting in premature cracking of the asphalt.

It also pointed out that the use of ARL bitumen had not been approved on account of its low flash paint which results in early hardening of the asphalt.

The institute had also rejected another sample said to have been used in the construction of Wazirabad bypass road. It said the sample had been tested for compliance with specifications and found unsuitable.

It asked the DO to send samples of bitumen from the National Refinery Ltd and aggregate from the Margalla quarry.

Sources told Dawn that the contractor is still using the Dina quarry aggregate and the ARL bitumen in the construction of the GT Road.