MUZAFFARGARH, Aug 14: A new four-lane Chenab bridge could not be opened to traffic as its third deadline lapsed on Thursday.

Reports said the project of Chenab bridge had been started in 2005 and the contractor company was to complete the scheme in August 2007, but it failed to do so because of flood. Later it was said that the bridge would be opened on Dec 31, 2007. After December last, it was announced that the bridge was in its final stage and would be opened on Aug 14, 2008.

A company official said: “As the government is busy over impeachment issue, we are trying to approach the prime minister for the opening ceremony.”

He said it was the mega project of the district while the old bridge had been made a century ago.

Earlier, ex-state minister Shahid Jameel Qureshi of the PML-Q wanted to open the bridge as he had managed funds for the project. But he was sent to jail in Kafila Siddiqui murder case and now he has been acquitted of the case.

Now PPP MNA Jamshed Dasti, who defeated Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, the son of the late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, said he would invite the prime minister to open the bridge.

On the other hand, a district government official told this correspondent that Federal Minister Hina Rabbani Khar was being contacted for bringing the prime minister for the inauguration ceremony.

Sources said all MNAs had been trying to get political mileage because the bridge was the first mega project during the last five years.

Last year, the then PML-Q ministers wanted to open the bridge, but the company could not complete it.

An official of the Husnain Cotex, which is contractor, said: “We are ready for the opening ceremony, but in these days the prime minister has other more important engagements.” He said sonic tests had been cleared.

The company general-manager said: “The opening ceremony will be held by the end of this month, and if formal inauguration is not held, the company will hand over the project to the National Highway Authority for operation.”