January 17, 2003	Friday	Ziqa'ad 13, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: The escalation cost of Islamabad Expressway has gone up to Rs250 million owing to long delay in the completion of the project, sources in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Dawn on Thursday.

They said the project had to be completed by 1991, but due to several reasons, it was still incomplete.

According to the PC-I of the project, the work had to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs494 million, but due to the delay in its execution, its cost has now risen to Rs744 million.

Under the project, an eight kilometre long and 20-feet broad third lane would be added to the dual carriage way of Islamabad Highway, from Faizabad to Rawat.

The sources said the delay in the project’s execution was causing a great deal of trouble to the commuters.

Some 70 per cent of the work has been completed, but the authority is waiting for funds amounting to Rs200 million for the completion of the under- construction part of the express way, they added.