ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has requested Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to allow it to execute 10th Avenue and I.J.P. Road projects through the Ministry of Defence on a single tender basis.

The CDA last month had requested the PPRA for giving relaxation in rules for five projects. Sources said on April 1, PPRA held a meeting and allowed the CDA to get three projects - Khayaban-i- Margalla, Alipur Farash Apartments scheme and Ghazi Barotha Water supply - through the defence ministry on the single tender basis.

However, PPRA refused to grant exemption regarding 10th Avenue and IJP Road project. Sources said a few days ago CDA through the finance ministry had requested PPRA to grant exemption in the two projects too.

A CDA’s letter, which was addressed to the Finance Division and also referred to the Ministry of Interior and other concerned department said: “CDA has submitted a case en route the Ministry of Interior to execute the following projects [five projects] through Ministry of Defence in relaxation of the Public Procurement Rules.”

It said the case summary was discussed in the 48th meeting of PPRA Board held on April 1, 2021, “wherein after detailed deliberation the PPRA Board decided to recommend to the federal cabinet for granting exemption from operation of Public Procurement Rules 2004 under the provision of section 21 of the PPRA Ordinance 2002 only to extent of projects - construction of Khyaban-i-Margalla, development of low cost housing at Farash Town for the residents of Katchi abadis and beneficiaries of Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority and conduction of water from Indus River System at Tarbela Dam to Islamabad and Rawalpindi (Ghazi Barotha project).”

The letter said: “Whereas, the remaining two projects – rehabilitation and widening of IJP Road and construction of 10th Avenue from IJP road to Khyaban-i-Iqbal were not recommended for exemption and procuring agency i.e CDA was asked to execute these projects under relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Rules in spite of justification already furnished by CDA.”

PPRA last month refused to grant exemption on 10th Avenue and I.J.P. Road projects

“In view of above, it is once again requested that the PPRA Board may review its decision and the two projects may also be recommended to the federal cabinet for granting exemption from operation of Public Procurement Rules 2004 under the provision of Section-21 of the PPRA Ordinance 2002.”

Sources said that following the approval of PPRA, the federal government had already approved CDA’s proposal for getting three projects executed through Ministry of Defence and the Frontier Work Organisation (FWO) was likely to start the three approved projects.

The sources said now efforts are being made to get PPRA’s endorsement for remaining two projects as well.

“We have sent a letter to Ministry of Finance for PPRA,” said an engineer of CDA.

Last month, CDA board had decided to get the projects executed through the defence ministry, which has the FWO and the National Logistics Cell (NLC).

The CDA board had decided: “The board was informed that Margallah Avenue, I.J. Principal Road and 10th Avenue are huge development projects and its execution require to be accomplished on a fast track basis. There are certain strategic/defence communication infrastructure and installations located in various portions of the alignment of these projects.”

Working close to the vicinity of defence-related installations, private contractor’s manpower and machinery could face restrictions during the shifting of any kind of strategic infrastructure and installations in the sensitive areas. After due deliberation, the board decided that the matter may be referred to the federal cabinet for its appropriate decision regarding the execution of these three road projects through the Ministry of Defence under the EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) mode to avoid later controversies, delays as well as to ensure security and transparency,” read the board decision.

CDA officials said overhauling of the I.J.P. Road would cost around Rs6 billion while construction of 10th Avenue was also a multi-billion project.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2021