RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) asked the metro bus contractors on Thursday to make prior arrangements for the construction work, as they will not be able to procure the materials from outside the city between August 12 and 14.

A meeting was held at the Commissioner Office to review the progress of the project, with the project director, Commissioner Zahid Saeed, as the chair, which was attended by the RDA officials and the representatives of the contractors of the eight packages of the metro bus project in the twin cities.

A senior RDA official told Dawn that it was told in the meeting that the work on Constitution Avenue and Jinnah Avenue will remain closed during August 12 to 14.

“The contractors have been advised to make arrangements for the security of their machinery and equipment during these days, in light of PTI’s Azadi March. However, the meeting was told that the government has not yet decided whether the party will be allowed to hold a gathering in Islamabad or not,” he said.

He said that the police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to deploy their personnel around the heavy machinery and the pillars installed near the security installations, such as Saddar, Hamza Camp, Shamsabad and other areas.

“The contractors assured that the labour will remain present in the camps to avoid shortage of labour. The scrutiny of labour through the law enforcement agencies has already started to avoid any untoward situation,” he added. The official said that contractors have been asked to make arrangements for food for their labour to avoid any such shortage, in case the city is sealed. He said that the government will give final instruction after August 10. The meeting discussed the land acquisition issue and the work on the Moti Mehal Bridge over Leh Nullah.

The commissioner asked the contractors to speed up the work after August 14 to meet the deadlines set by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

When contacted, Commissioner and Project Director Zahid Saeed said that the executing agency, RDA, and contractors chalked out a plan for the construction work during the coming days due to the expected march by PTI.

He said that the work will continue and the necessary arrangements will be finalised within two days. He added that there were no instructions from the government about the PTI march, but the administration was still making arrangements to avoid any untoward situation.

“The administration has made two plans to deal with the situation, if the government allows the march or if it doesn’t allow,” he said.

To a question about the presence of the containers on Kashmir Highway and G.T. Road, the commissioner said that this was a part of their planning, but it would be implemented only in case of government instructions.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2014