KARACHI: Non-release of funds delays work on mega projects
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, May 4: Pace of work on at least two, out of seven mega-city projects, has suffered during the last few months owing to non-release of funds to the CDGK by the contributing agencies.
Moreover, VIP movement has been hampering work on Shahrah-i-Quaideen Flyover project. The projects initiated by the city government are: dualisation of Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road from Shahrah-i-Faisal to National Stadium intersection; Korangi Road project from Hino Chowk to Korangi crossing, and improvement of Korangi Road from Kalapul to Hino Chowk; Sharah-i-Quaideen, the FTC Flyover and the rehabilitation and improvement of Shaheed Sibghatullah Shah Road from National Stadium to Drive-in-Cinema, Shahrah-i-Quaideen and Shah Faisal Flyover.
These projects, sponsored by City District Government, and funded by various government agencies, including the Sindh government, the Defence Housing Authority, the cantonment boards and the SITE Association at a total cost of Rs 821 million, were initiated to improve traffic flow, and, so far, Rs412 million have been spent.
Except for the Shah Faisal Colony Flyover project, which is open to traffic now after its completion, the pace of work on the remaining six projects has slowed down owing to bottlenecks which could delay their completion.
The Rs 74.66 million Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road project, whose date of completion is January next, is being delayed as naval nurseries are yet to be shifted from the proposed alignment of the road. Moreover, the cantonment board Faisal has not yet provided funds for the project.
Two more projects - improvement of Korangi Road from Hino Chowk to Korangi Crossing and improvement of Korangi Road from Kalapul to Hino Chowk - which were scheduled to be completed by March 2004, could not make up progress as desired as 86 per cent and 85 per cent progress in work has been achieved.
The revised estimated cost of Korangi Road project from Hino Chowk to Korangi Crossing had been Rs 54.42 million, but only Rs 25.45 million have been consumed. The reason for the slow work was attributed to shifting of KESC cables, construction of T&T chambers at site, and monsoon rains.
The Korangi Road project, from Kalapul to Hino Chowk, is being executed at a cost of Rs 135.265 million, and, so far, Rs1,000 million have been spent. The FTC flyover and Shaheed Sibghatullah Shah Road's rehabilitation and improvement (from National Stadium to Drive-in-Cinema) are scheduled to be completed on July 8 and June 2004, respectively, but in view of the pace of work on both the projects, it can be stated that both the projects are not likely to be completed on schedule because of delay in the shifting of utility services in the alignment of the road and increase in steel prices.
The FTC Flyover is being built by the city district government at a cost of Rs 109.4 million, and, so far, Rs72.14 million have been spent. The slow pace of work is attributed to leakages in the water supply line, and hurdles in earth work on loop area due to water-logging.
The Shaheed Sibghatullah Shah Road is being built at a cost of Rs74.795 million, and, so far, only Rs8.73 million have been spent. In view of the pace of work, it is not likely to be completed during the current year as work got delayed due to monsoon rains, shifting of KESC cables, repair of leakages of 12" dia pipe-line of MES Depot and utility services in the alignment of road.
The date of completion of the Shahrah-i-Quaideen flyover is February next. It would be completed at a cost of Rs109.66 million. So far, only Rs24.665 million have been spent.
The bottlenecks in the completion of the road included security arrangements for VIP movement, re-tendering of the revised design and modified plan. This project could make only 32 per cent progress till last month.
Chief Secretary Dr Muttawakil Kazi, after reviewing the report on work, has directed the local government, the city district government and other concerned departments to maintain a coordination to ensure timely completion of projects.
