PESHAWAR, March 26: The inordinate delay in the completion of the Suri bridge, being built on the Rehman Baba intersection since 2002, is causing considerable inconvenience to the people of Peshawar.

“The condition of all roads leading to and coming from this intersection is very bad and irritating,” said Shujaat Khan, a resident of Peshawar.

“Anyone passing through the area, especially in public transport, feels extremely irritated and disgusted because of the jerks and jolts caused by the potholed road as well as the thick smog of dust enveloping the whole area, badly hampering the traffic flow and forcing all vehicles to move at a snail’s pace, said Ali Khan, a motorist.

Officials of the City Development Municipal Department (CDMD), when contacted by Dawn for comment, said ‘continuous rains’ and change in the scope of the project were two factors causing the delay.

“Heavy rains in March was the main reason for the delay. The Suri bridge is almost completed but it can’t be opened until the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) removes the main transmission line from the spot,” CDMD Director Aminuddin said.

He said that the high-voltage power line was the main hurdle preventing the CDMD from opening the bridge. He said his department had paid Rs4.3 million in Sept 2006 and the high-voltage power line had to be removed by Dec 2006 but the work had not been completed despite the passage of three months.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company Media Manager Shaukat Afzal, when contacted, said that his company had sent a demand note in July 2005, asking the CDMD to deposit the money so that the line could be removed.

“Removing the electricity main transmission line is not an easy job and it needs expertise. Korean experts have been called in as Pesco staff could not do the job,” Mr Afzal said.

He said the work on shifting the line into tubular poles was under way and it would be completed in a week. He said the inordinate delay had been caused by the district government as it did not cooperate with Pesco and it took Pesco officials 22 days to convince the district government to withdraw their objections.