ISLAMABAD: Uncertainty looms over the fate of Sihala Flyover Project as the contractor is opting to give up due to an increase in the cost of construction material.

In July last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan had performed ground breaking of the project along with I.J. Principal Road and 7th Avenue projects. However, work on Sihala flyover project could not begin.

Sources said the contractor had requested the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to disassociate him from this project, as due to price hike in the cost of construction material, he will not be able to do it. However, CDA is yet to make a decision.

“Yes, the work on this project has not started yet as the contractor is unwilling to do it due to price hike,” said an officer of the CDA.

PTI Member of National Assembly Sadaqat Abbasi had been making effort towards an early start of this project, as his constituents belonging to Kahuta and its adjoining areas had been demanding construction of this flyover for years.

Project halted due to deadlock between contractor, CDA

Talking to Dawn on Monday, Mr Abbasi said due to deadlock between the contractor and CDA on the price issue, the project is halted.

“The contractor has been saying that he could not carry out the project due to increase in cost of construction material whereas the CDA has been stating there is no provision in laws for revision of rate. So, this project is stuck. I will soon contact the CDA to find a solution,” he said.

It is relevant to note here that besides the said project, the prime minister had performed ground breaking of I.J. Principal Road and 7th Avenue Interchange project – contracts for which were won by the National Logistic Cell. Currently, work on both projects is in full swing.

Meanwhile, sources said two other projects - Rawal Dam Interchange and Korang Bridge - being executed by the same contractor (as Sihala Flyover Project) are also facing delay.

The deadline of Rawal Dam Interchange project is October this year and so far, around 50pc work on it is pending. Whereas, the expansion of Korang Bridge was supposed to be completed in December last year but the CDA gave the contractor a four-month extension till April this year.

Sources said the CDA was also planning to open an Escrow account (a joint account of CDA and the contractor) for smooth supply of funds to buy the construction material for Rawal Dam Interchange project. They said the contractor had been saying that it had become difficult for him to continue working as construction material had become extremely expensive since the past one year.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2022