ISLAMABAD: The multi-billion 10th Avenue project is moving on at a snail’s pace, as only 35 per cent progress has been made even after the passage of its extended deadline that expired on Monday.

The Rs10.2 billion project was launched in 2022 through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and it was supposed to be completed in March this year. Later, the deadline was extended till December 30.

Sources said the contractor, National Logistic Cell (NLC), was not able to speed up the work because of a lack of funds. “Yes, today our extended deadline has expired. The project is facing delays mainly because of funding,” said a CDA officer. He said the federal government should look into this matter; otherwise, it could face cost escalation charges as well.

According to the CDA officials, the shortage of funds was the major reason behind the delay. So far, out of total Rs10.2 billion, less than Rs3.5 billion has been released for the project. A few months ago, the contractor had informed the CDA that inadequate and piecemeal funding was one of the main reasons for the delay in work.

Only 35pc progress made as officials blame paucity of funds for delay

The NLC also called for an implementation of the price adjustment formula approved by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Committee (Ecnec) in 2023.

For this mega project, the government in fiscal year 2024-25 earmarked only Rs400 million, which showed that the government was not interested in getting this project completed in this fiscal year. Out of the allocated Rs 400 million, only Rs 140 million was released during the first two quarters of this fiscal year.

The project was started by the PTI government. Initially, the government had earmarked over Rs1 billion, but in the fiscal year 2022-23 only Rs350 million were set aside for it. Then the PDM government released Rs1.3 billion, and in the fiscal year 2023-24 only Rs400 million were earmarked. Out of it, during the first two quarters, Rs 140 million was released.

Under the first phase of the project, a 5km road is being constructed from the Katarian Bridge on Karnal Sher Khan Road to the Srinagar Highway near the intersection of the G-9 and G-10 sectors in the federal capital.

In the second phase, the avenue will be constructed from the Srinagar Highway to Margalla Road.

The 10th Avenue is part of the city’s master plan, which mandates the construction of an avenue after every sector, just like the 7th Avenue between sectors G-6 and G-7, Faisal Avenue between G-7 and G-8, and 9th Avenue between G-8 and G-9.

As the 10th Avenue project is stuck, the proposed 11th Avenue project has yet to be started. Interestingly, PM Shehbaz Sharif, during his first stint last year, had laid the foundation stone of 11th Avenue, but that project has not started yet, except for a two-kilometre portion near Margalla Road, which is known as Iran Avenue.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024