Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The cost of construction of Mandra-Chakwal Road has increased by Rs4 billion due to revision of the PC-1.

According to the documents available with Daily Times, Rs4.44 billion has been released for construction of the 64 kilometres long road, but only 35 percent of work has been completed so far. The original PC-1 of this project was approved by the ECNEC on July 8, 2014 and a timeframe of 18 months was set for its completion. The PC-1 was revised due to incomplete construction work with the cost of construction increasing to Rs4.67 billion, which was approved in the original PC-1. As per the revised PC-1, the cost of the project increased from Rs4.67 billion to Rs9.33 billion. The deadline for completion of work was extended to December 2016. The ECNEC gave a formal approval in this regard on March 16, 2016.

An amount of Rs1,972 million was allocated for this project in fiscal year 2012-13, Rs2,414 million in 2014-15 and Rs284 million in 2015-16.

This way, Rs4.44 billion has been released for the road, which will start from Chakwal and end at Mandra via Bahkri, Chak Omara, Moona, Dhudial, Syed Adda, Jhangi Phero and Mankhot. The one side of the dual carriageway is 7.3 metres wide and shoulder is two metres wide.

An amount of Rs229.82 million has been paid to the IESCO, Rs11.025 million to the Punjab Forests Department, Rs12.32 million to the Rawalpindi Forests Circle, Rs99.38 million to the PTCL, Rs344 million to the SNGPL, Rs12.94 million to the railways, Rs12.62 million to the Chakwal Tehsil Municipal Administration, Rs619.23 million to the NLC and Rs34.89 million to NESPAK. This way, a payment of Rs1,376.25 million has been made so far.

The project is still behind the schedule due to delay in construction of flyovers and bridges over railway crossings and purchase of land. The cost of this project has increased two fold. If the project is not completed in December 2016, the PC-1 is likely to be revised once again.