Escalating costs stymie development schemes
The Senate agreed that natural gas would not be provided to high-rise buildings and new housing schemes through the Sui gas transmission system. PHOTO: REUTERS
Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) has increased the estimated cost of 34 development schemes in various union councils of the city by hundreds of millions of rupees owing to an increase in the prices of building materials.
Therefore, the cost of these development projects has jumped to Rs1.41 billion. Although the previous estimate was Rs1.20 billion.
The civic body has released tenders for these projects in defiance of the Election Commission's restrictions. The tenders will open on January 2, 2024.
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At an estimated cost of over Rs120 million, MCI plans to construct a playground and a mini sports club in Khayaban Sir Syed. Furthermore, the upgrade and beautification project of Murree Road from Marir Chowk to Kacheri Chowk is planned for a cost of over Rs199 million.
The other development schemes of the corporation include the upgradation of commercial market roads, drains, footpaths, and road extensions, including the upgradation of the road from Transformer Chowk to Sadiqabad Chowk.
The corporation will use its funds to complete the development schemes of the city’s 34 union councils within three months. Contractors had refused to participate in the tenders at the old cost.
Hence, the estimated costs have been adjusted according to the open market building material rates. The development schemes that were started in 14 union councils of Rawalpindi within the last two months have been slated to be completed in two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2023