ISLAMABAD: City managers on Tuesday approved the PC-Is of three development projects worth almost Rs12 billion, which would be executed through self financing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

These projects are construction of road to link Margalla Road with E-11, expansion and overhauling of Park Road and construction of Bhara Kahu bypass.

“Yes, today Development Working Party (DWP) approved PC-Is of all three projects,” CDA Chairman retired Capt Mohammad Usman told Dawn.

The PC-Is were approved by CDA’s Development Working Party, which met with the CDA chairman in the chair. Besides CDA officers, the meeting was also attended by officers of the Planning Commission and interior ministry.

Schemes to be executed through funds provided by CDA

The meeting was supposed to take up two projects, however, in the revised schedule, another project (linking of Margalla Road with E-11) worth around Rs3 billion was also presented and approved. Under this project, the CDA will construct a 5km road to link Margalla Road - which starts from G.T. Road and culminates near D-12 - with Khayaban-i-Iqbal near E-11, where an interchange will also be built. Completion period of this project is one year.

CDA officials said the under-construction Margalla Road from G.T. Road to D-12 is nearing completion and is expected to be completed in December this year. They said to avoid traffic congestion on service roads, the construction of a road and interchange was imperative.

Meanwhile, the DWP also approved PC-I worth Rs2 billion for expansion and overhauling of Park Road. Under this project, rehabilitation and widening of the 7.4km Park Road from Rawal Chowk to Tramari Chowk will be carried out while one additional lane will also be added to each side.

A source said the DWP also directed the CDA to construct a metro bus station on Park Road during its expansion. Meanwhile, the DWP also approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s priority Bhara Kahu bypass project worth Rs7 billion.

The 5.4km road, including a 1.5km flyover, will start from Murree Road near Quaid-i-Azam University Stop and will culminate on Murree Road again near Jugi Stop. According to the PC-I, the project will be completed within four months.

The CDA board had recently decided to get this project executed through a government firm under rules 42 (f) of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Under this rule, competitions will be held among government construction firms only.

The CDA officials said as per rules, all four government-run companies - Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), National Logistics Cell (NLC), Railway Construction Pakistan Limited (Railcop) and National Construction Company which is a subsidiary of Ministry of Housing - would be asked to participate in the bidding process and the lowest bidder would be awarded the contract.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2022