GUJRAT: An inordinate delay in the model study on the construction of the proposed Shahbazpur bridge over the River Chenab that will directly link Gujrat with Sialkot airport has been a major hurdle in the execution of the project.

The construction of the bridge over the Chenab and a flyover at Shaheen Chowk along GT Road (Gujrat bypass) has been included in the federal government’s 59 mega projects of infrastructural development across the country.

Although the Punjab government will provide funds for both these projects, the federal government’s National Highways Authority (NHA) will execute them.

The Shaheen Chowk flyover which was proposed by a senior PML-N leader and a business tycoon from Gujrat, Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed, will cost around Rs1.5 billion and the work on the flyover is expected to start by the middle of March. Tendering process for the project is currently under way.

Initially the flyover was planned along Gujrat-Sargodha road at the Shaheen Chowk intersection. However, due to lack of required space at the site, the plan was changed and now it will be constructed on NHA Road. Because of the change in plan, the project’s land acquisition cost may increase.

Official sources told Dawn the provincial government had approved Shahbazpur bridge in 2014-15 fiscal. The irrigation department had been asked to conduct a model study of the project which was a technical requirement.

The study had to be completed within 90 days after the department was assigned the task, but despite a lapse of more than 11 months it could not be concluded. The authorities concerned have expressed their displeasure over a delay in the completion of the study.

At a recent meeting held to review progress on the bridge, the NHA chairman had asked the irrigation department to complete the model study by Feb 15.

A senior official of the Gujrat district government told Dawn that so far the irrigation department had only prepared a model of Shahbazpur bridge that would be installed at the Upper Chenab Canal in Sialkot district. The project’s estimated cost would be calculated after the model’s installation, he added.

He said the project’s estimated cost would approximately be more than Rs2 billion.

It is expected to be completed within a year of initiation of the construction work.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016