Sector I-15 development contract awarded

Niaz and Brothers, who were the lowest bidders, have been awarded the contract for the first phase of development works in Sector I-15 for Rs1.128 billion.

This was disclosed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials on Monday.

They said that the firm won the contract after it had submitted a tender which was 25 per cent less than the estimated cost of completing work on the project.

Officials said that after issuing a ‘letter of acceptance’ earlier, a letter for the commencement of work on the project has also been issued.

They said that the NIT for the first phase of development works in Sector I-15 was Rs1.128 billion. They added that after a transparent and healthy competition amongst the bidders, the final contract awarded was 25 per cent less than the estimated cost and that it is now expected to be completed for Rs862 million.

Sector I-15 was launched nearly two decades ago to accommodate low-income residents of the city.

Though plots in the sector were allotted, no step had been taken for its development. With CDA focussing on completing work in the stalled sectors apart from uplifting the infrastructure of the city, the project was revived.

In this context, all administrative and technical issues hindering the development in the Sector I-15 were addressed and after completing all legal formalities, contract for development work in the sector have been awarded.

The authority opened financial bids for the first phase of development work in Sector I-15 in May. The qualified firm was expected to complete infrastructure development including road infrastructure, drainage, sewerage, water supply, electrification and other amenities of phase 1.

CDA has launched works in several, underdeveloped I-series sectors of the federal capital. Earlier in June, the civic authority had issued tenders for building four box culverts in Sector I-11/2.

The NIT of the project, worth around Rs137.42 million was also issued. The culverts, they said, have been planned in Sector I-11/2 to drain high volumes of water and handle a higher rate of water flow than the already installed pipes. Apart from drainage, the culverts will also be able to accommodate vehicular and pedestrian movement.

CDA officials hope that by developing the sectors and selling commercial areas within could raise revenues for the civic authority which in turn can be utilised for infrastructural improvement of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2020.