November 13, 2002	Wednesday	Ramazan 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Islamabad Expressway Project is in doldrums owing to a delay in the construction of four main bridges, sources said.

The CDA board had awarded the bridges project to a local construction firm, Nespak, some eight months ago. However, no significant work has so far been carried out.

When contacted, CDA director general services Moiduddin Jamili expressed ignorance about the delay in the project. He said it was commissioned before his appointment as acting member engineering.

Another authority official said the firm had specialized engineers for mega projects. He admitted that such qualified engineers were not available in the CDA.

He said the authority’s consultant engineers would also assist the contractors for better output and durability in the construction work.

Meanwhile, a source told Dawn that two senior CDA officials, who were suspended for misappropriation of funds and mishandling the expressway project last year, had been reinstated.

The source said the project was being delayed due to financial constraints. Some 70 per cent of the work has been completed, but the CDA requires an additional amount of Rs200 million to complete the remaining work.

As a result of delay in the construction work, the commuters are facing great inconvenience. The expressway project, which was started in August 1999, had to be completed by August 2000.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs494 million, under which an eight-kilometre long and 20-feet wide third lane will be added to the dual carriageway, from Faizabad to Airport Chowk.

Under the project, a 12-feet wide service road will also be constructed on the west side of the highway. Fences are to be installed on both sides of the road on the pattern of the motorway, and no turning will be allowed from Faizabad to Airport Chowk.