Delay in construction of road irks people,

LAHORE – The City District Government has failed to meet the deadline to complete the construction of Allama Iqbal Road, which is not only causing massive nuisance for the residents of surrounding localities but also is becoming messy for traffic, it is learnt.

While talking to this scribe, EDO Works and Communication Department of CDGL Muhammad Akram Zafar admitted that the CDGL and other departments concerned failed to meet the deadline according to the plan. He clarified that some unexpected hurdles during the sewerage pipeline laying process and modification in plan were the main reasons of delay in achieving deadline.

“Obviously, delay in completing construction of the road is causing inconvenience not only for the commuters but also for the business community and residents of nearby vicinities”, Akram Zafar added. He said a meeting of government high-ups likely to be held on Saturday which would take decisions according to amended plan.

Whereas City District Governments’ Works & Communication Department, Wasa and Lesco and some other departments are holding each other responsible for delay in construction of the road. The slow-paced construction work on the said road is causing frequent traffic jams.

Earlier, the EDO held Wasa and Lesco responsible for delay in construction of the road. He said the Works Department would start construction of the road after receiving green signal from both the departments regarding completion of work. “As pace of work is concerned, he is not authorised to seek explanation or justification from any other authority for delay in construction work or peruse other departments concerned in this regard” he added.

On the other hand, Wasa Deputy Managing Director (Operations) Naved Parvez claimed that Wasa already laid sewerage and water supply pipelines while work on roadside drains was underway.

Giving reasons for delay, he said government awarded such project to Wasa during monsoon and factually the target was being achieved by the officials within given time frame if the days of rainy season were excluded. He said Wasa laid about 8,200 feet pipelines on such a busy road from Railway Station to Jamia Naeemia, Chowk Garhi Shahu and from Chowk Crown Cinema to Mayo Garden. “The main reason behind the delay is shifting of electricity poles from the roadside for widening road, which yet to be completed by Lesco authorities” he said. He said authorities of Works Department must force the Lesco authorities to shift poles as soon as possible. He blamed that the Works Department also seemed lethargic in this regard and perhaps was using delaying tactics for starting construction work on the road.

The project worth Rs 550 million was being executed by City District Government with the financial support of provincial government in June 2011 while the government also announced that the project would be completed in January 2012.