ISLAMABAD: The city managers have awarded a contract for the development of two sub-sectors of the stalled I-12 sector, which has over 6,000 residential plots.

       Once developed, the sector will be a major contributor to affordable housing in Islamabad.

       The development of the sector has been facing an inordinate delay. However, a brief statement issued by the CDA on Sunday said the civic agency had approved the lowest bid worth Rs542 billion for the development work that included construction of streets, a drainage system and the sewerage network in I-12/2 and I-12/3.

       CDA officials said estimates were being finalised before floating tenders for development work in the remaining two sub-sectors.

       In the past, the civic agency had awarded contracts for construction of major and service roads in the sector but both the contracts could not be completed due to a number of controversies.

       Lowest bid of Rs542bn approved for construction of streets, drainage, sewerage network, CDA says

       A few months ago, the Federal Investigation Agency lodged an FIR against several CDA officials on the charge of having contributed towards irregularities in development work of the services roads in I-12.

       The FIR stated that work on the construction of service roads East, West and North was awarded to a contractor. Subsequently, the file was given to the competent authority with a proposal for variation in works.

       As per the FIR, variations proposed in the development work prior to signing of the contract agreement created doubts which required an investigation against officers concerned of the engineering wing and the contractor.

       The FIR also stated that unlawful changes were made, including the concrete specification from Class A-I to Class A-3.

       In 2015, the CDA had awarded a contract worth Rs Rs248.4 million for the construction of major roads that too is still not complete.

       The work on the major roads could not be completed due to a dispute between the contractor and the civic agency because of a faculty survey. The CDA officials said a fresh survey was later conducted but around 20pc work on the construction of major roads was still incomplete.

       In 2020, the CDA approved PC-1 worth Rs8.21 billion for the development of the sector, including complete infrastructure development, electrical and mechanical works and provision of amenities and other services. According to the PC-I, the sector was to be fully developed by 2023.

       The I-12 sector was launched decades ago and has over 6,000 plots. However, no serious attempt was made for the development of the sector. Besides other challenges, the under-developed sector is also being used as a dumping site for many years.

       CDA officials said efforts were being made to shift the temporary landfill site to some other place for which various options were under consideration.

       They said that last year the CDA had earmarked a space for the landfill site in H-16 but due to objections raised by people of nearby areas and a subsequent court case the CDA could not shift the landfill site there. However, they said H-16 was reserved for institutions, and not a residential sector. Therefore, the CDA will request the court to allow it for using it as a temporary landfill site. As a long-term solution, the CDA and the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) were jointly working to establish a scientific landfill site in Mandra.

       Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2022