ISLAMABAD: A project to overhaul the 2.6km-long road of Margalla Town Phase I & II is still incomplete even though it was supposed to be ready in July 2021.

On the other hand, thousands of residents of Margalla Town, which is a residential scheme of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), are facing hardships due to the dug-up road and dust.

“We have no idea why the CDA has failed to complete the small project, work on which started in January 2021,” said Ali Hussain, a resident.

He said the residents had been requesting the CDA officials for the last many months to look into the issue but to no avail.

“I would request the CDA chairman to get the project completed at the earliest,” he added.

Deadline still not met even after eight months since work started on 2.6km road in Jan 2021

The notice inviting tender (NIT) cost of the project was Rs80 million but due to what the CDA had said a “healthy competition” the contractor deposited a bid 39pc below the tender cost and won the contract for the construction of the road along with three culverts.

However, it seems the contractor later realised his blunder of getting the contract against the lowest rate and continued the work halfheartedly.

“Instead of celebrating and terming the irrational low bid an achievement, the CDA should not have awarded the contract below the estimated cost to avoid delay in the completion of the project,” said an engineer of the CDA.

He said whenever contractors won contracts on abnormally low rate, they tried to delay the project citing one reason or the other.

The engineer also cited the examples of two mega projects, which were awarded on below the NIT cost and facing delays. He said Rawal Dam Interchange project (worth Rs1.1 billion was awarded 11pc below the rate) and Korang Bridge project (worth Rs658 million at 17pc below the NIT cost).

The Rawal Dam Interchange is supposed to be completed in October this year but slow pace of work indicates it will miss the deadline as around 50pc work is still pending. The construction of Korang Bridge was supposed to be completed in December 2021 and the contractor was given a four-month extension. However, sources said it seemed the project would not be completed even in the extended period.

A press release issued by the CDA in December 2020, after opening bids for the Margalla Town road project, had said: “CDA has opened bids for expansion and improvement of Korang Road, Margalla Town Phase-I & II. The bidding process was participated by 11 firms. NIT of the project was Rs80.04m. Due to a healthy competition and transparency in the contract it was awarded at the lowest bid amounting to Rs48.04m which is 39pc below the estimated cost.”

When contacted, an officer of the engineering wing said after assuming charge a few months ago, the new director roads (south) paid several visits to the site and got the construction work expedited.

He said now the project was near completion and soon blacktopping on the road will be started.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2022