ISLAMABAD: The engineering wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is hopeful Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will decide the fate of the proposed Serena underpass on his last day in office on Wednesday.

The PM last week had refused to inaugurate the project before getting presentation about the construction company, which had won the contract.

Wednesday [today] is the last day of the government. However, the CDA engineering wing is expecting any order from the PM Office regarding the project.

Railway Constructions Pakistan Limited (Railcop), belonging to Pakistan Railways, had won the contract by submitting the lowest bid (Rs2.1 billion) against the bid (Rs3.5 billion) submitted by another government-run construction companies - National Logistics Cell (NLC).

Last week, the prime minister was supposed to perform groundbreaking of the underpass near Serena Hotel and widening of a portion of Srinagar Highway from 7th Avenue Interchange to Serena Chowk. The PM had sought presentation from the CDA on the construction firm which had won the contract before deciding the fate of the project.

“We are waiting for a decision from the prime minister. On our part, everything is ready; if the prime minister allows us to start this project we can start it within few days. If he will say for fresh bidding, then we will go for new bids,” said an engineer of the CDA.

The prime minister had asked which construction firm was going to execute the project. When he was told that Railcop belonging to Pakistan Railways had won the bid, Mr Sharif refused to perform groundbreaking, saying road construction was not a job of ministries.

The PM directed the CDA chief to cancel the contract of the company and go for fresh tendering process.

He asked the DG Railcop about the expertise of the company to which he said it was a government-run company which had expertise in construction of bridges. The PM said that he must be given a presentation about the company after which he will decide the fate of the project.

Besides, existing Srinagar Highway from 7th Avenue Interchange to Serna Chowk will also be widened with two additional lanes. Further, last portion of this highway from the junction to Murree Road will also be overhauled. Once started, the design and construction work will be completed in six months.

Sources in CDA said Railcop was a government-run companu like NLC and FWO which had vast experience in road and bridge work; they are hopeful the PM will give the go-ahead.

They said if the project was rejected, the CDA will have to cancel the contract of T-Chowk flyover worth Rs1.78 billion awarded to Railcop. The Railcop won the project by submitting the lowest bid against the NLC which had submitted a bid of over Rs2 billion.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2023