RAWALPINDI: The Katchery Chowk Remodelling project has seen inordinate delays, escalating the project’s cost.
It has been shared that the Rawalpindi Development Authority has failed to award the project to any contractor.
According to an RDA official, the Authority invited contractors, including National Logistic Cell (NLC), Federal Works Organization (FWO), and Railcop Private Limited, for the Katchery Chowk Remodeling in August.
The project’s construction cost was estimated to be Rs5.1 billion, and the cost of acquiring land and shifting services was estimated to be Rs1.3 billion.
However, FWO was left as the single contractor for this project as Railcop Private Limited and National Construction Limited did not take part in the tender procedure, and NLC did not respond to RDA.
The RDA official said that the main reason for the contract’s delay was complications involved with the project.
He stated that because the project was in the heart of the city, comprehensive traffic planning and the relocation of utility services such as gas, phone, and electricity were required.
However, he added that many commuters wanted the RDA to begin work on the project.
Concerning the availability of cash, he stated that the Punjab government had already released Rs1 billion for the project, which had been transferred to the RDA’s account.
He stated that the Punjab government had stated that more funds would be released as soon as the construction begins.
He stated that the project’s cost had risen from Rs4.879 billion to Rs6.422 billion in the previous two years due to the addition of a flyover and a 25% increase in building material prices.
A flyover will be built as part of the project to accommodate traffic arriving from Rawat through the Grand Trunk Road and the future Rawalpindi Ring Road.
It will allow 131,500 vehicles to commute each day.
