ISLAMABAD: Over the recent months, the Capital Development Authority completed two mega road projects, but the 10th Avenue project has remained neglected, causing an inordinate delay in its completion.

Last month, the Serena and Jinnah Avenue projects were open to traffic within months. The said two projects were completed with the

CDA’s money. 10th Avenue, on the other hand, is being financed by the federal government and seemingly a slow release of funds has caused delays.

The Rs10.2 billion project was launched in 2022 under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) by the CDA. It was supposed to be completed in March last year but its deadline has been extended twice due to insufficient progress.

A CDA official agreed that the project was delayed, claiming the government released only Rs400 million for the ongoing fiscal year. “Out of Rs 400 million, we have received Rs250 million. How can a project worth billions of rupees make serious progress with funding of millions,” the official said.

CDA says progress is slow due to lack of funds, seeks timely allocation

He said the CDA recently requested the federal government to allocate remaining funds of around Rs8 billion in the upcoming budget so that this project could be completed during the next fiscal year. Currently, only 40pc work has been done.

“So far, out of total Rs10.2 billion, less than Rs3.5 billion has been released for this project. We are fearing if funds are not provided (in time), then this project will face (further) cost escalation,” he said.

Sources said contractor National Logistic Cell (NLC) was working at

a slower pace because of a lack of funds.

Last year, the contractor had informed the CDA that inadequate and piecemeal funding was one of the main reasons for the delay in work.

The NLC through an official letter last year also called for the 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.

CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani said the project was awaiting funds from the Public Sector Development Programme. The funds are crucial to maintaining momentum, he said. “...Rs8 billion more is required to complete it, whereas only 400 million is sanctioned in total allocations for this year. We have taken up the matter with the planning commission for expediting the allocation of the requisite funds to ensure uninterrupted progress,” he said.

The mega 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.

Then the PDM government released Rs1.3 billion, and in the fiscal year 2024-25, only Rs400 million were earmarked.

Under the first phase of this 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, a road 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.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025