Tunnel boring to help save roads

AIIB willing to give loan for underground pipelines replacement

LAHORE:

Consultancy firms have been shortlisted for Pakistan’s first project to lay underground sewerage lines without digging the roads to save the citizens from problems during the work.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) will complete the tunnel boring project with the support of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Four international firms have been shortlisted for the consultancy for the pre-qualification process and funds for the project are expected to be released in June. The project will cost Rs14 billion.

The sewerage lines were laid in the provincial capital about 50 years ago and most of them could not be replaced by WASA despite the expiry of their useful life. WASA surveyed the dilapidated pipelines in the city. The surveys revealed that billions of rupees were required to replace the pipelines.

WASA approached various foreign financial companies and banks due to unavailability of funds to replace the pipelines in Lahore in a phased manner.

Initially, the AIIB was briefed about the tunnel boring project for laying underground sewage water drainage pipelines without digging the roads through modern technology in the main areas of the city instead of using the old method. The Bank expressed willingness to lend Rs14 billion for the project.

After getting approval for the project from the provincial and federal governments, WASA has finalised the matter with the bank.

After three years of planning, significant progress has been made in the tunnel boring project. The four firms shortlisted for consultancy include two from Denmark, one from China and one from the United States. No Pakistani firm was successful in the process.

The shortlisted firms have been directed to submit required documents by February 24.

WASA has decided to start pre-qualification of contractors for the development work soon afterwards so that the process may be completed as soon as the funds are received.

The WASA’s tunnel boring project will be incorporated in the Annual Development Programme for the next financial year. WASA plans to lay sewerage line under the project from Larex Colony to Gulshan Ravi through tunnel boring. A 28km-long underground sewerage line will be laid. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs14 billion.

The bank is likely to approve the loan in a meeting to be held in June. After its approval, the amount of Rs14 billion is likely to be received in July 2021.

Under the scheme, the funds for acquiring the land required for the project will be provided by the Punjab government, while the remaining amount will be provided by the AIIB.

A disposal station will also be set up for the tunnel boring project at Gulshan-e-Ravi, where all the water will be treated before its drainage into River Ravi.

Sewerage and water supply lines will be laid in other parts of the city in the second phase of the tunnel boring project.

When contacted, WASA Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz said the first modern project of laying underground sewerage and water supply lines in Pakistan would be started soon in collaboration with the provincial and federal governments.

“We are working on selection of consultants for the project on a priority basis.

After appointing a consultant, we will start the tendering process to get the preparatory work done so that as soon as we get the loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, we can start working on the project without wasting time.”

The official added that the project would be completed in two and a half years.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2021