ISLAMABAD, May 21: Ignoring its own experienced engineers, the cash-starved Capital Development Authority (CDA) has acquired the services of engineers from the private sector at lucrative salaries for the three road development projects, which have already turned out to be white elephants for the civic body, Dawn has learnt.

An official close to the development said the authority had hired the services of three project directors (engineers) from the private sector for the development of Lehtrar Road, Kashmir Highway and Zero Point Interchange.

The Lehtrar Road project was launched during the tenure of former CDA chairman Kamran Lashari in 2008. “The cost of the project, which initially was Rs450 million, has now swelled to Rs600 million,” he added.

The official added that Zero Point Interchange, which was estimated to cost Rs1.6 billion, has now crossed Rs3.6 billion mark. Construction of the interchange began in September 2009 with the completion deadline of December 2010; however, there is no end to the work in sight. Prime roads leading towards Sector H-8 and connected to the interchange are still unfinished.

The Kashmir Highway project, he said, was started three months back at a cost of Rs3 billion and it seems that it would also miss its deadline.

“All the three projects are being developed at a snail's pace; besides, the cost of these projects has escalated mainly due to the changes in the scope of work,” said the official.

He added that the project directors were hired from the private sector by the CDA board despite the fact that around 26 qualified directors were already working in its engineering department.

According to the official, some 26 directors, 66 deputy directors and 100 assistant directors were working in the engineering wing and they have already completed some key projects, including 9th and 7th avenues; I.J. Principal Road, Faisal Avenue Flyover and Islamabad Expressway.

“Though the engineers successfully completed the projects within the deadlines; it is intriguing why the authority ignored them,” said the official.

The three project directors have been offered Rs198,000 per month salary while the CDA pays its own directors Rs65,000 per month, he added.

When contacted, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid insisted: “We have hired the best professionals from the market for the highly skilled jobs.”

He said it was need of the hour to hire such highly-skilled professionals on market salary, adding all of them were hired on merit. He said efforts were underway to complete the projects within the shortest possible time.