ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Thursday has directed the National Highways Authority (NHA) to take stern action against the contractor for construction of substandard Chakdara-Mingora road.
The panel observed that the contractor had used low quality material for entire Chakdara to Mingora expressway, which not only wasted precious national resources but also posed serious threats to the safety of motorists.
The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less-Developed Areas, which held here under the chairmanship of Senator Usman Khan Kakar was informed by the officials of the NHA that the contractor had encashed Rs86 million of performance guarantee.
Expressing serious anger over the substandard construction work of the road, committee directed the NHA to blacklist the company. Further discussing revision of the Zhob Bypass, the officials of the Planning Division assured the committee that once a revised PC-I by NHA was submitted; work on this project would be prioritised.
The panel in detail discussed and reviewed the progress on various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects including Kuchlak-Zhob Section, Saranai to Chaman Section and bypasses at Loralai, Muslim Bagh and Zhob.
The committee further discussed the bidding process for motorways from Zhob to Kuchlak, and status of maintenance work at Zhob to Darazanda section. While deliberating over implementation status of recommendations recorded in the meeting held on 30 December 2019; the committee took up issues pertaining to deserted motorway sections along Kuchlak-Zohb.
The committee stressed the need for conducting regular patrols to control law and order situations, accidents and traffic congestion alongside this section. The panel was informed that soft patrolling was being conducted already. However, to begin operations on a regular basis, the department was short of funds.
Taking up the issue of status of repair and maintenance work at the Zhob to Darazanda Section, the panel asserted need for constructing speed-breakers by the NHA on international standards. Kakar emphasized that all roads in less-developed areas must come up to the NHA standards as this would go a long way in controlling accidents.
The issue of people and trucks being stranded in the area was also discussed. Establishment of Emergency Response Centres on the Quetta-Zhob, especially during snowfall, was stressed. Discussing road standards, Senator Fida Muhammad brought up the issue of the Mianwali-Muzaffargarh Road.
The committee stressed that this needs to be maintained according to the NHA standards. Regarding retention of walls along the bridge situated between the college and city at Muslim Bagh, the committee members were informed that the work had been completed in April. The committee recommended that the height and length must be doubled to protect it from floods.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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