ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The contractor of Faisal Chowk Flyover has linked the completion of the project till March-end with the release of outstanding dues by Capital Development Authority (CDA).

“We will definitely meet the fresh deadline of March 23 provided our outstanding due amounting to Rs160 million is released by the CDA,” the owner of the construction firm, Abdul Qadir, told Dawn on Monday.

However, Chairman CDA Tariq Mehmood Khan, who visited the project site, insisted that the project should be completed by March 23.

The contractor was directed to complete the project within the prescribed schedule as the CDA chief was of the view that most of the work should have been completed by now as committed during his previous visit on December 16.

Project Director Faisal Rehman, who represented the firm - Matracon - said the main cause behind the delay was non-release of funds by the CDA.

He said the project would incur Rs1.06 billion but the authority had so far paid only about Rs800 million. He said the CDA high-ups were repeatedly reminded to issue the cheque but “what to talk of payment they have not even given us an appointment for a meeting during the last one month.”

The CDA categorically rejected the notion that the authority was facing any financial crunch and said no project had been delayed due to so-called scarcity of funds. The management of the construction firm said it was confident that both sides of the flyover could be completed by February 28 provided the CDA released the funds on time.It is feared that the project which was to be completed by December 31 will take more time for completion and citizens would have to face inconvenience due to the ongoing construction work.

The company had assured the city managers two months ago that it would complete the entire work, that started two years ago, by the end of December but it missed the deadline.

The flyover has three levels: an underpass, ground level and flyover. The city managers had managed to open the underpass on September 20 on the eve of Eidul Fitr by involving some other firms. The contactor had assured the CDA that it would open the ground level on October 31.

The firm has already missed the fourth deadline to complete the project as it had to finish the work by March 2008.