CDA speeds up work in Sector I-14

Invites bids for sector’s sewerage system development

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making efforts to complete the long-delayed development work in Sector I-14, a statement issued by the authority said on Sunday.

As part of efforts to complete development of stalled projects and completion of residual work in the sector pending since years, CDA has decided to start work on the drainage system of Sector I-14.

Earlier, CDA had allocated Rs9.37 million for improving drainage system of the sector and now it has invited tenders for the project.

Under this initiative, existing drainage system laid out in all sub-sectors of Sector I-14 would be repaired and improved while in the areas where drainage system does not exist will be covered under this project.

As the construction activities in Sector I-14 are in full swing and people are constructing houses on their plots, the completion of residual development work in the sector was direly needed.

According to the CDA statement, cognizing the needs of the residents of the sector, incumbent management of the authority took up the completion of development work in the sector I-14 and in this connection, work on improvement  provided funding for the improvement of entire drainage system and maintenance.

Earlier, the Incumbent management had approved Rs210.552 million last month for supply of gas to the remaining areas of Sector I-14, Islamabad. So that work can be started for the supply of gas to the remaining areas of Sector I-14.

CDA-Development Working Party in its 45th meeting held in October last year had approved the project concept I (PC-I) of Rs3112.162 million for development of Sector I-14.

Moreover, the CDA management has directed the concerned department to complete all codal formalities for the improvement and maintenance of all the major roads of Sector I-14, besides the construction and maintenance of Sector I-14 streets.

Korang Bridge in need of repair

Ditches, potholes and issues like unnecessary delay in the rehabilitation of 13 kilometer stretch of Islamabad Highway from Korang Bridge to Rawat T Chowk have frustrated the commuters as no remedy was in sight.

The potholes were particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. Bikers could have a nasty fall or even a serious accident if the front wheel of a two wheeler gets lodged into a pothole.

Moreover, craters have turned the road into a permanent nuisance and frequent traffic congestion was a mental torture for routine travelers. The absence of road lights at both sides of the highway adds to the miseries of road users commuters.

Commuters’ trouble start immediately after approaching the Korang Bridge as they have to wait for at least an hour for crossing the narrow bridge due to long queues of heavy vehicles. Misery does not end even after crossing the bridge, as hundreds of commuters including office-goers, students, patients and bikers suffer mental torture due to road-blockages caused by even a minor accident of heavy vehicle.

The movement of over loaded trucks, trailers, moving at snail’s pace has caused cracks, fissure and deep ruts on both sides of the highway particularly from Korang Bridge to Rawat T Chowk. The cracks have turned into pits and potholes and no rehabilitation measures in sight, majority of which have turned into ditches and tranches on the highway.

Intercity public transport, trucks and long vehicles, plying between Lahore and Peshawar, also have to spend almost half-a-day in the clogged traffic as it was the only route available for them.

The route claimed to be a signal free facility by 2017, seems to remain a quagmire for daily commuters even in 2020 as the project was still limited to the files and currently, no practical work is in sight at the remaining part of the project from Gulberg to Rawat.

The criminal negligence of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) administration has added fuel to fire as both keep announcing the rehabilitation of the most pothole-riddled section of the road despite at least three announcement of starting construction from own resources.

The government of former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had approved Rs10.70 billion for the construction of signal free road from Gulberg to Rawat. But his tenure was ended before the approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Consequently, the project was awaiting approval. The current government had allocated only Rs450 million for the project in the current financial year. A suggestion was to project should be executed with public private partnership.

When contacted a CDA official said the construction work on PWD underpass and Korang bridge would be initiated during current financial year. The tender documents for expansion of Korang Bridge mention estimate cost of Rs854 million and Underpass at PWD for Rs350 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2020.