Vital link: Construction company claims NHA owes Rs55m

GRC says with 90% work on Earthquake Memorial Bridge complete, NHA yet to pay single penny.

MUZAFFARABAD: The work on the region’s first seismic-resistant Earthquake Memorial Bridge has been stopped for the last two weeks by the contractor as the National Highway Authority (NHA) has not released Rs55 million demanded by the construction company. The bridge aims to connect the civil secretariat areas with the Nalochi bypass road.

The government of Japan had provided funds to the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) to undertake the mega project which handed over its construction to NHA.



The construction company, GRC, was directed to complete the project before December 30 this year and it had completed 90 per cent work on the project.

An official of the construction company, while talking to The Express Tribune, said the NHA owed them Rs 55 million for the work it had put in to almost complete the bridge and said they will only resume construction once they are paid their dues. When asked why they began work without first receiving funds from NHA, he said the company did it to save its reputation.



The Centre Traders Association of Muzaffarabad has announced a shutter down strike against the proposed visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Azad Jammu and Kashmir next month over NHA’s delay of releasing funds for the under-construction bridge.

“There is a major traffic problem from the district complex to the Neelum Bridge that adversely affects our business activities. The timely completion of the Earthquake Memorial Bridge will help to reduce traffic rush in the city,” said Centre Traders Association President Shaukat Nawaz, while taking to The Express Tribune.

Nawaz said traders appeal to the prime minister to pressure NHA to release the funds for the greater interest of the people Kashmir.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2013.