Rs5.9b spent on 27 road projects in Capital
By Kalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has spent about Rs.5.9 billion on the construction of 27 different roads across the federal capital during the last two years that shares the major chunk of development budget of the civic body, said Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar-uz-Zaman here Tuesday.
Speaking during the question hour on behalf of the Minister In-charge of Cabinet Division in Senate, he said out of 27 road projects, the Authority has completed the construction and renovation work on 19 roads including construction of several underpasses and avenues.
"CDA has completed work on 9th Avenue, 7th Avenue, five underpasses on 7th Avenue, three underpasses on 9th Avenue, Nazimuddin Road, Khayaban-e-Iqbal, rehabilitation of Murree Road, dualization of Shahra-e-Jamhuriat, 4th Avenue, Nazimuddin Road and Ibn-e-Sina Road," the minister told the House in written reply.
Work on seven road projects is in full swing to be completed shortly those include Lehtrar Road, Service Road in sectors G-10 and G-11, conversion of Fazl-e-Haq Raod into parking, widening of Faisal Avenue and China Chowk Underpass.
He said the contractor has completed 55 percent of the work on Faisal Avenue flyover adding that the contractor has been directed to complete the project within the stipulated time. The Minister told the House that the Authority has blacklisted the contractor of China Chowk Underpass as he failed to complete the project within the set deadline.
He said the Authority had made no compromise on the standard and quality of the work; however some defects appeared during the construction phase due to unsatisfactory workmanship which were got rectified according to the specifications from the contractors at their own expenses as per provision of the contract.
To a question, he expressed his unawareness about the appointment of any advisor in the civic body as was stated in a news item appeared in a section of press. The minister admitted that the Authority has been awarding contracts on the basis of favoritism, adding that the government would take steps to make the tender process fair and transparent.
A high level meeting on Rapid Mass Transit System was held on Tuesday, presided by the CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari. The purpose of meeting was to provide best traveling facilities to the residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi - Islamabad in line with modern technology. On this occasion the representative of M/S REJLES presented a detailed report and briefed the Chairman CDA on the proposed rapid-Mass-Transit System
Chairman CDA expressed his satisfaction and instructed that the project must be brought over in the next CDA board meeting.