ISLAMABAD, April 29: Minister in charge of the Cabinet Division Qamar Zaman Kaira on Tuesday informed the Senate that government would probe into the procedure adopted for the award of contracts for construction of roads in the federal capital.

Answering a question during the question-hour session, he said there had been instances of favouritism in the procedure, adding that there should be a competitive bidding and the single bidding system should be discouraged at all costs.

Responding to a question asked by Senator Ismael Buledi, the minister informed the house that the consultant hired for the construction of underpass on the Shaheed-e-Millat Road near China Chowk had been black-listed for poor quality work on the Rs709.200 million project. He said a proper inquiry would be held and those found responsible would be penalised.

Mr Buledi had pointed out that the road close to China Chowk was in dilapidated condition even before the completion of the project.

Mr Kaira told the house that work on 17 roads in the capital had been completed during the last two years. Giving details, he said these included the 9th Avenue from the IJP road to Kashmir Highway (phase-I) measuring 3.65 kilometres at a cost of Rs214.697 million, 9th Avenue from Kashmir Highway to Khayaban-e- Iqbal (phase-II) measuring 3.75 kilometres at a cost of Rs135 million, Service Road (South) Nazimud Din Road in F-10 and F-11 stretching 3.5 kilometres at a cost of Rs75.599 million, Khiybaan-e-Iqbal, F-11 costing Rs37.348 million, rehabilitation of Western Carriageway of Islamabad Highway measuring 11.6kilometres at a cost of Rs575.791 million, addition of third lane rehabilitation of existing Murree Road from Faizababad to Dhokri measuring 6.36kilometres at a cost of Rs368.460 million, addition of third and fourth lane to Faisal Avenue from Nazimuddin Road to Faisal Masjid, construction of 7th Avenue and five underpasses on it at various points, construction of three underpasses on 9th Avenue, construction of service road (East) Murree Road, construction of vehicular roads in sector I-16 and I-14, dualisation of Shahrah-e-Jamhooriat and 4th Avenue, dualisation of Nazimuddin Road from F-6 to F-8, and dualisation of Ibn-e-Sina Road from G-9 to G-11.

He said 92 per cent work on the Lethrar Road from Khanna bridge had been completed. The minister said delayed shifting of service to the FWO and rains were the reason for delay in the completion of the project.

Mr Kaira said 85 per cent work on service road (South), G-8 to G-10, had been completed while 98 per cent work on the Rs156 million project relating to conversion of existing Northern carriageway of Fazlul Haq Road into car parking and construction of additional carriageway (3.5 kilometres) had been completed.

He said 55 per cent work on construction of underpass and flyover at Faisal Avenue and Jinnah Avenue intersection, and 80 per cent on underpass at Shahee-e-Millat road had also been completed.

He said 80 per cent work on dualisation of service road (South), G-11, had been completed while work was in progress on rehabilitation of service road (West), G-11, and construction of Margalla Avenue from Constitution Avenue to Bari Imam.

In reply to a question by Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, the minister confirmed that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had plans to open six new residential sectors in the capital near future. He said these included sectors D-13, E-13, F-13, D-14, C- 13 and C-14.

He said survey in these sectors had been completed and acquisition of land was in progress. About the criterion for allotment in these sectors, the minister said one-fourth of the plots would go to owners of the land while the rest would be available for allotment to the applicants. He was unaware if there would be quota for government employees in these sectors or not.

Mr Kaira said Sector I-14 had been opened for those whose land had been acquired while launching new sectors and could not be compensated. He said another sector for this purpose can be opened, if need be.

Senator Tariq Azim raised the issue of appointment of an adviser to the CDA, who according to a report had started chairing meetings and issuing directions to senior officers.

Mr Kaira, however said, the appointment of the adviser was not in his knowledge and asked Tariq Azim to be specific and provide the name of the persons so that he could give a proper reply.