ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) once again failed to get approval for the construction of the much-delayed 7th Avenue interchange from the Development Working Party (DWP) of the authority.

The DWP, which met at the civic agency’s headquarters on Tuesday, approved several projects but deferred the construction of the 7th Avenue interchange worth Rs1.5 billion because of the incomplete file work.

The project was twice deferred by the DWP during the last a few years. The meeting was presided over by CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed and attended by members of the CDA Board, senior officers of Planning and Development Division and officers from the Ministry of Interior and the CDA.

CDA-Development Working Party told that contract of project consultant expired in 2014 and was to be renewed before approval of work

“CDA-DWP also considered the construction of grade separation facility at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Khayaban-i-Sohrwardi and Kashmir Highway and deferred the project. It was decided that the extension of contract of the consultant would be taken up in the first stance,” said a statement issued by the CDA.

On the other hand, motorists have been facing traffic congestion at the Aabpara Chowk at the starting point of 7th Avenue and Kashmir Highway - a place where the proposed interchange would be constructed.

The project was announced in 2008 but so far the CDA has failed to get it approved from the DWP.

Sources said the DWP meeting discussed the 7th Avenue project and the participants were told that the consultant of the project had no valid contract as in 2014 his contract expired and had not been given an extension.

The sources said the meeting directed the concerned directorates to resolve the extension issue first after which the project could be placed before the DWP at its next meeting.

CDA officials told Dawn that just because of the negligence of the authorities concerned, the project was facing delays.

“The CDA chairman should hold an inquiry to fix responsibility as why the project is being delayed,” said an official of the engineering wing.

The meeting approved PC-I amounting to Rs81.159 million for the construction of Orchard Scheme at Murree Road. The PC-II amounting to Rs27.653 million for consultancy services for feasibility study and detailed engineering design of rehabilitation and widening of I.J Principal Road was also approved.

The cost of the PC-II will be borne by the authority from self-finance accounts. However, the DWP recommended that the construction cost would be charged from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The meeting also considered another project envisaged to resolve traffic issues on Park Road and Rawal Dam Chowk. While changing the name of work to traffic management system for Rawal Dam Chowk and Park Road, the meeting approved the PC-II amounting to Rs13.827 million.

The meeting agreed on a time extension for the construction of two underpasses at G7/G-8 and F-7/ F-8 on Faisal Avenue. However, the cost and location of the project will remain unchanged.

The meeting also agreed with the need for the construction of five pedestrian bridges at different places in the capital.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2019

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