RAWALPINDI: With a new contract likely to be issued to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) this month, re-construction work on the bridge over Soan River may take an additional one-and-a-half years to complete.

According to an official of the National Highways Authority (NHA), the contract of remodelling of the bridge had been terminated in April 2022 and the contractor was black-listed due to multiple reasons. Now, a fresh contract is to be awarded to the FWO this month, he said, adding that, “yes, the FWO would be given one year’s time to complete the work with a six-month extension. But due to monsoon and flooding in the river, work on the bridge will not commence in the next two months”.

There is an additional issue brought on by busy traffic, school and office hours as well as other factors.

The contract of remodelling of the bridge had been terminated in April 2022 due to multiple reasons, including delay and poor workmanship. Strict notice had already been taken at the top level and it was decided that a fresh contract would be awarded to the FWO so expansion of the bridge could be completed as soon as possible.

New contract likely to be awarded to FWO this month

Construction work on the bridge over Soan River was started in 2017 and was scheduled to be finished by Jan 20, 2022. Sources said senior NHA officials were summoned by higher authorities in Chaklala who expressed concern over slow pace of work. Later, it was decided that a fresh contract would be awarded to the FWO so that the remaining work could be completed.

Due to the damaged road and construction material scattered on the bridge, near the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench building, motorists entering the city have been facing problems. It has left only one lane for vehicles to pass due to which commuters and motorists remain stranded on Soan Bridge. Throughout the day, especially in the morning and evening, traffic remains even more congested.

The road is used by thousands of people including goods transporters who come to the city from other parts of the district via the G.T. Road.

The NHA official also attributed the poor work and construction material to the policy of awarding lowest rate tenders to private contractors for public welfare projects.

“It usually happens in political governments because of many reasons – one of which previously observed was that of the fear of government departments like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB),” he said, adding that no one can take any decision on their own.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022