ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is considering asking the government to fund the expansion of the Islamabad Expressway after it already refused to do so, because the CDA cannot afford to execute the project itself.

The second phase of the Islamabad Expressway Expansion project will cost Rs10.7 billion to complete. The last government had earmarked funding for it in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19, which was recently suspended by the new government.

In the first phase of the expansion, the expressway was widened from Zero Point to Koral Interchange and made signal-free. Khana Interchange, which was part of the first phase, has not yet been completed, although sources in the CDA say it will be by the end of November.

According to the PC-I for the project, in the second phase the CDA will expand the existing four lanes from Koral to Naval Anchorage to eight by adding two rigid lanes and rehabilitating the flexible lanes.

Officials say CDA cannot afford to complete second phase of expansion itself, even if it does start it

Three bridges, at Korang, Bhinder and the railway stop, will also be built, along with service roads.

The government has denied funding to almost all development projects in the capital that were listed in the PSDP as ‘unapproved’ projects.

Officials from CDA’s engineering wing who Dawn spoke to said the CDA, which can barely afford to pay its employees and is funding necessary projects itself, is not able to execute a Rs10.7bn project.

In March, the CDA chairman at the time had asked then prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a grant of Rs10.7bn to complete the project. Mr Abbasi had approved the funds and directed the Ministry of Finance to release a Rs1bn immediately.

The funds were not released, but Rs7bn were earmarked for the project in the 2018-19 budget and Rs2.75bn in the 2019-20 PSDP.

The first phase of the project was inaugurated by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in July 2015. Under the original PC-I, the expressway was to be widened to five lanes from Zero Point to the G.T. Road in Rawat, connecting to Motorway II within two years.

In 2015, the CDA changed the PC-I and decided to execute the project in phases because of financial constraints.

Some officials said the authority could start working on the project by auctioning of commercial plots, but it would be difficult to complete it within the stipulated timeframe.

They said the auction process is lengthy, with allottees depositing payments in four instalments.

“I have no idea whether or not we will start this project with our own funding,” said a CDA officer who asked not to be named. “Maybe if the federal government pushes us to start this project with our own resources we may do so, but it will be very difficult for us to complete the project.”

He added that the first phase of the project was started in December 2015 with CDA funding, and it has not been completed.

CDA Member Finance Dr Fahad Aziz said the authority would take up the issue with the PM Office for securing funds for the project.

“I am optimistic the federal government will consider our request,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2018