ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been asked to take over the construction of the much-delayed model jail along the Srinagar Highway in Sector H-16 and the consultant of the project alongside a contractor has been removed for their alleged negligence.

The federal government and the interior ministry want to complete this project in 100 days and from the Public Works Department, the project in principle has been transferred to the CDA for its completion at the earliest, according to sources. The decision, however, needs the approval of the federal government for the formal transfer.

“On the direction of the federal government we are doing our best to get the initial phase of the project completed in 100 days, in a bid to make the first phase of the project functional,” said an officer involved in the project.

He said that the works that were still un-awarded could take 180 days to complete but the boundary wall, barracks, administration building, and the civil and electrical works were expected to be completed within 100 days’ timeline.

CDA asked to take over the delayed project to ensure timely completion

A few days ago, Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa visited the site and expressed displeasure over the sluggish pace of work. He also directed the removal of the consultant and a contactor (who won the contract for the barracks and was conspicuous for his absence during the CDA chief’s visit) for their “negligence”. Sources said that after a proper inquiry, they could be blacklisted as well.

During the visit, Model Prison Project Director Mehmood Alam from the PWD informed that the contractors were mobilised on the awarded works except for the contractor tasked with constructing the barracks who was reluctant to start the job.

Moreover, CDA Chairman Randhawa asked the consultant to provide an evaluation report about the quality of the work but the latter failed to provide the same. The CDA chairman was not happy with the alleged non-professional attitude of the consultant and directed his removal along with the barracks contractor. Sources said that the member (engineering) of the CDA, who was also present on the occasion, was directed to take over the work and depute his team for efficient work.

According to sources, the chief commissioner’s office reached out to the federal government with a request to formally hand over the project to the CDA. “Approval of handing over and taking is in the process; meanwhile, the member engineering has been directed…to hold meetings with the PD [project director] and other relevant officials to expedite the project,” said a source, adding that the project director would continue to work under the supervision of the CDA.

He said that the member engineering would meet the PD within this week to hammer out the issues regarding contractors and those unwilling to comply with the 100-day deadline would be replaced with a new team. It was also decided that the member engineering will contact the National Highway Authority (NHA) for access to prison on a government-to-government basis at the earliest.

When contacted, a senior officer of the Islamabad administration confirmed to Dawn that the consultant and a contractor had been removed while the project was being handed over to the CDA.

In May this year, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the chief commissioner visited the jail site to stock of its construction. The interior minister had directed that the scope of the PC-1 be reduced to the extent of making the prison functional with a reduced capacity. Accordingly, sources said, a revised PC-1 of Rs7,399.122 million was submitted and approved last month.

Revised PC-1 includes barracks for 486 prisoners, a hospital, a kitchen, laundry, residences for staff and wardens, and essential infrastructure. The sources said the required money (minus the utilised funds) to the tune of Rs5,731 million would be issued in phases just like the planned expansion of the prison. They said that the PC-1s for these phases would be framed by the end of this year. The estimated cost of the project is Rs17 billion, which will be divided into two or three phases. It is relevant to note that the project was approved in 2016 for Rs3,928.523 million with the completion expected in 2019.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024