ISLAMABAD: As expected, the mega-development project of the expansion of the Islamabad Expressway missed its deadline due to multiple factors, including delay in the release of the required funds, Dawn has learnt.

According to sources, around 30 per cent work on the project is still incomplete.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had awarded a contract worth Rs10.9 billion to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for the rehabilitation and expansion of the seven-kilometre portion of the expressway from PWD Interchange to GT Road in Rawat on September 2022, and the project was to be completed by March 20, 2024.

The sources said 30pc work was still incomplete even one week after the deadline for completion of the project, which included construction of Bindhar Bridge, Japan Road underpass and Soan Bridge. They said after missing the deadline, the contractor had now sought an extension as well as the release of funds. The CDA has so far paid Rs4.6bn billion, out of Rs10.9 billion, to the FWO.

The sources in the CDA said that an extension of six to nine months would be given to the FWO for the completion of this project.

“There are three main reasons for the delay. A late start of the work on the project, time consumed in shifting of utility services and above all, inconsistent and slow release of the funds played a major role in causing the delay,” said a senior CDA official.

Responding to a question regarding delay in release of the funds, the official said it happened as they started several multi-billion projects in the capital during the last three years.

Meanwhile, Member Engineering Dr Mohammad Khalid Hafiz on Wednesday presided over a meeting on the issue, which was attended by officers of the engineering wing as well as the officials of the FWO.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the work on the project was in full progress and would be completed this year, provided the CDA ensured the release of funds.

The participants were informed that work was in progress at full pace on the major component of the project -- the Sohan-Kak Bridge -- and its eastern side was almost complete. In the next two months, work on the western side will also be completed.

The meeting was told that the roof of the underpass on Japan Road would also be laid in the next three days. The meeting was also informed that road work was almost complete and four kilometres had already been opened for traffic.

According to the sources, the member engineering CDA during the meeting asked the FWO to expedite the work and assured them that the civic agency would ensure smooth flow of funds to get the project completed soon.

Under the project, two rigid and two flexible lanes are being constructed on each side of the expressway.

Earlier, the road had only two lanes on each side and it narrowed down to two lanes after passing PWD, causing bottlenecks and disrupting traffic on daily basis.

The expressway is one of the main roads in the federal capital and caters to both light and heavy traffic, particularly between Islamabad and Lahore. Its widening from PWD to GT Road had been announced many times, but work was formally started in December 2022.

Due to ongoing work, motorists have been facing serious traffic congestion issues on a daily basis.

“We request CDA to get this project completed as soon as possible to provide us relief. Every day, we face traffic congestion,” said Rashid Rehman, a resident of Rawat.

Meanwhile, sources said during the meeting, the FWO officials also asked member engineering about the pending liabilities of Margalla Road from D-12 to GT Road. They pleaded that the road had already been completed and opened for traffic last year, but they were still waiting for clearance of their pending liabilities.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2024