ISLAMABAD: The completion of the Bhara Kahu bypass project in Islamabad, Pakistan, has lost the interest of stakeholders following two incidents last month.
The federal government, Capital Development Authority (CDA), and contractor National Logistics Cell (NLC) were previously making significant efforts to complete the project by March 23.
However, It has been observed that the progress had slowed down, and if the work was not expedited, the bypass might not be completed for another four months.
CDA engineering officials attributed the slowdown to the recent rains, stating that the transom was being poured, with 21 out of 27 already constructed.
They added that the transoms’ construction would be completed during the month of Ramadan, with girder launching work beginning after Eid.
Once the girder launching work commences, it could take up to two months, and another month will be required for road carpeting.
According to engineering rules, 28 days must pass after launching girders before dumpers can start carpeting the flyover.
An official confirmed that there was undue pressure to complete the project before March 23, but now they were working with an over-conscientious approach while following safety standards.
They emphasized that the bypass should be constructed without any pressure for early completion, as it is a multi-billion project meant for millions of people and should be completed according to international engineering standards.
It is important to note that the Bhara Kahu bypass project, a pet project of the federal government, started on October 1, 2022, and was supposed to be completed within four months as per its PC-I. Many believed the timeline mentioned in the PC-I was irrational for such a mega project.
Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed CDA to complete the project in three months instead of four, resulting in CDA and NLC making serious efforts, and work continued round the clock.
However, the project saw two back-to-back incidents last month, killing two laborers following the collapse of a transom and the collapse of five girders due to flaws in their launching.
Since then, the pace of work has slowed down, and the prime minister has constituted a commission to investigate the incidents and assign responsibility.
The project consists of a four-kilometer road with a bridge and five underpasses, along with a one-kilometer elevated flyover.
Furthermore, the road from Malpur to Ghugi stop Murree Road is nearly complete, and final asphalt work is expected to be carried out together with the flyover project.
Good being a mega and elevated construction Road work consisting four kilo meter road be completed in speed mode but according to international Engineering principles no body afford to such development work again and again complete time must be given to complete satisfactory performance of project by the higher authority to avoid any deficiency or accident again
Later proper functional test and performance be strictly measured .
The project is poorly supervised from the day one. Instead of looking into problems at their end now NLC and CDA is blaming federal govt. The man power working on project is too much defiecient and I hardly see any one supervising the project. Just labourers there
Earlier completion of the project will overcome the difficulties being faced by the adjacent population and road users
The overall work on the project is not satisfactory according to the international engineering and safety standards. Workers are working without using safety gears 24/7. Moreover CDA or NLC has further given this project to different other companies which can result in gaps and laps in terms of quality assurance and structural development.
I am being material engineer in this project. PM SS want project in duration less than planned duration. How someone load concrete with heavy structure if the said concrete do not gain require strength
I think people are being abused and should not be let down anymore.The government has failed us in everything we do۔its very shameful.