KARACHI, Sept 23: Almost all of the eight mega projects of flyovers and roads are not likely to be completed on time as bottlenecks have slowed down the pace of work.
The sponsors of these projects are the city government, the Sindh government, the Defence Housing Authority and cantonments. The projects have been initiated to ease traffic congestion.
According to the latest report of the city government sent to the monitoring cell of the government, the FTC flyover, inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 18 August 2001 is not likely to be completed on time, ie, July 2004, as the work on the project was delayed by almost one year due to the revised design.
The improvement work of Korangi Road from Hino Chowk to Korangi Crossing, a joint project of the CDGK, the government of Sindh and the Defence Housing Authority, which was started on May 6, 2002 and whose completion date was June 12, 2003, could not be completed due to delay in the shifting of KESC cables, failure of the revenue department to allocate 600 square yards in Hino Chowk, refusal of the T&T department to construct chambers at the site, reluctance on the part of the contractor and the monsoon rains.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs110.18 million. Till last month only Rs47.39 million had been spent, showing only 32 per cent progress.
The improvement work on Korangi Road from Kalapul to Hino Chowk has also been delayed for want of revised PC-1 by PDWP of the government of Sindh.
Work on the Sharahe Quaideen flyover commenced on February 22, 2003, and is to be completed by February 2005. This project was inaugurated by the Sindh governor on October 7, but the construction work was delayed due to design inadequacies and revision of the concept plan.
The rehabilitation and improvement work of Shaheed Sibghatullah Shah Road from National Stadium is also faced with problems. The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs74.795 million and its completion date is June 3, 2004. The pace of work is suffering on account of the shifting of KESC cables, repair of a leakage in a 12-inch dia water pipeline of the MES department and delay in release of share funds by the Sindh government and Faisal cantonment.
Work on the dualization of Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola Road from Sharae Faisal to the National Stadium intersection has not started as the cost-sharing partners of the city government, which are the Sindh government and Faisal Cantonment, have not yet released the funds. The total cost of the project is Rs74.66 million.
The balance civil and electrical works, including modification, of the Korangi civic centre-III, which will house the IT university, is in progress. Its completion date is December 28, 2003 and its total cost of Rs25.87 million. This is a joint project of the ministry of science and technology and federal, provincial and city district governments. Its progress is slow due to delay in release of funds and availability of electricity at the site of work.