ISLAMABAD: A slight change in PWD underpass design will delay the project by a month as it was supposed to be completed in June, but now it would be completed somewhere in July.

The sources said that due to change in design of a roundabout, the CDA extended the scope of the work.

However, official of engineering wing said that change in design of a roundabout was imperative which is not illegal as up to 15pc scope of the running project could be extended.

“In this case, there is around 10pc variation (change) in scope of work,” said a senior officer of CDA.

Last year, the CDA awarded the contract against Rs428 million - 19pc less than the estimated cost.

CDA officials said that one month delay did not matter and if the project was completed in July then too it was okay, but it should not be delayed any further.

An engineer of the CDA said the work was in full swing and efforts were being made to complete it in the given time. He confirmed that scope of the work has been increased.

Meanwhile, the work on expansion of Korang Bridge on expressway was also in progress, which according to CDA will be completed by December this year.

The expressway is one of busiest road and traffic jam is a routine on it particularly from Koral to G.T. Road. However, CDA officials believes that after completion of the two projects, the issue of traffic congestion will be resolved to some extent up to Korang Bridge.

They said that in next phase, the CDA will start widening of the road from Korang Bridge to G.T. Road.

The officials said that it was yet to be finalised who will carry out next phase, as federal government has also been making efforts to get the next phase done through public private partnership mode.

Earlier, the PML-N government in its last budget had earmarked Rs7 billion for expansion of expressway from Koral to G.T. Road, however, the PTI government later dropped the said project and decided to construct PWD underpass and expansion of Korang Bridge.

Now the government is planning to launch third and last phase through public-private partnership. “In both cases, either through public private partnership or through government funding, we have to execute the final phase of the expressway as this road is main interprovincial road,” said a CDA officer.

He said besides the two ongoing projects, the CDA is also planning to overhaul and widen the service road from Faizabad to Khanapul (towards Sohan side) of expressway.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021