Jehangir Chowk-SKIMS, Batmaloo-Tengpora road projects unfinished
BILAL HUSSAIN
After three and half years the Jehangir Chowk-SKIMS road, Batmaloo-Tengpora road contract projects are incomplete till date. The project cost has escalated from Rs 10crores to about Rs 30 crores, official sources said.
The contract which was signed on December 26, 2006 and the work on the project was started on January 31, 2007. According to the contract, the project completion period was estimated to be around 18 months. Earlier, the completion date as per contract was August 21, 2008 which was subsequently extended and the last revised date of completion was set December 31, 2009.
The project is awarded to Kamal Builders, has 10.1 Kms scope of work the contract cost was Rs 10 crores, which is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under loan package of 2151-IND. The dynamic cost of it was Rs 10.94 crores. As of now Rs 13.4977 crores has be expended on the project and is expected to go further up to Rs 30 crores, which means 3 folds increase compared to what has been estimated by the SPAN consultants— specialist in Asian Development Bank projects— sources said..
There are some handling issues faced by the contractors like: shifting of electric poles, which are partly completed. “Balance work shall be completed after acquisition of land and structures with Power Development Department,” official sources said.
Another issue confronting the project is that of land acquisition: Land measuring 2.72 marlas has been acquired. “Land owners are demanding rehabilitation for houses and shops,” official sources said.
However, the physical achievement of the contract is meager 58 per cent as of date, while on the financial front the project crosses 123 per cent expenditure, due to initial low estimates by the SPAN consultants, sources said.
The laying of Bitumionus macadum of main carriage way from Jehangir chowk to Sekidafar chowk has been completed. Laying of DBM from Jehangir chowk to Sekidafar chowk is also completed. Construction of drain on Dr. Alijan road near Idgah, central is on verge of completion.
Widening by way of earth work and laying/consolidation of GSB on Batmaloo Tengpora road completed for aggregated length of 850 mtrs on both sides. Laying of BM and DBM Batmallo-Tangpora road completed for aggregate length of 850 mtrs. However, laying of WBM G-II, excavating and refilling in layer's UEED trunk sewer line for river bed material is still in progress.
Head consultant for entire Kashmir region for SPAN consultants, A K Raina, told Kashmir Times that over 7 Kms stretch road was dug by the UEED and PHE departments, which changed the whole geography of the project. “They uprooted the whole systems on the roads like electoral poles, drainage and other facilities that changed the item of work and the quantity of the whole contract as well,” he said
Earlier Kashmir Times reported that the major portion of total 83 contract packages were work had been allotted to various contractors, which amounts to package value of Rs 1119.34 crore have not been completed. . At present 69 per cent of the projects have alerts. According to sources in the agency the key reason in delays in completion of the projects is due to the frequent change of head adding that the additional charge also affected the functioning of the projects.
To mention, the project ‘MPIR loan 2151-IND’ is first externally aided project funded by ADB. The estimated cost of the Project is Rs 1611 crores. ADB loan component is Rs 1125 crore and counter part fund component is Rs 486 crores. Counter Part fund is borne by government of India under PMRP. Project completion period was June 2009. Government of India has been requested for extension of project completion period till June 2010 and subsequently GOI has recommended extension to ADB.
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