10th Avenue Project Faces Funding Problems as Government Prioritizes Other Projects

ISLAMABAD: The construction work on 10th Avenue has stopped due to a funding issue.

The project began in March 2022 and was supposed to be completed by March 2024, but only 15% of the work has been done in the past 14 months.

The contractor, National Logistics Cell (NLC), is facing a funding issue, and the government has not prioritized the project.

Engineering wing officials have requested that the government release funds to continue the project.

The government has promised to release Rs1.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year to ensure the continuation of the project.

The NLC had previously sent a letter to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) requesting the release of funds, stating that they would disassociate themselves from the project if funds were not arranged.

The project, which is being executed by the CDA and is worth Rs10.2 billion, has a first phase of constructing a 5km road from Katarian Bridge to Srinagar Highway.

The second phase will be constructed from Srinagar Highway to Margalla Road. However, the CDA may face another issue as a slum area near H-9 falls in the road’s alignment.

The CDA will have to relocate the residents of the 1,400 houses in Rimsha Colony to ensure smooth construction work.

Without the necessary funds, the project will not be completed on time, and the CDA cannot force the contractor to expedite the work.

In the upcoming budget, officials request that the entire amount be earmarked to complete the project in the next fiscal year.

If the required funds are allocated, officials believe the project could be completed within a year.