Rs 1.98 billion allocation: work on CDA's 13 special projects yet to begin

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to initiate work on 13 special projects, to be completed at a cost of Rs 1,984.7 million, announced by the civic body in the current financial year budget 2011-2012. The total outlay of the financial year 2011-2012 is Rs 23.99 billion. Of the total budget, the authority has allocated Rs 1,984.7 million for priority projects but the civic body has so far failed to execute these projects.
Similarly, the CDA allocated Rs 6.2 billion for the CDA's engineering wing, which is 52% of the total budget; Rs 1,984.7 million were allocated for the Estate Management wing, Rs 784.02 million for the Planning and Designing wing, Rs 800 million allocated for the Environment wing, Rs 200 million for the Finance wing, Rs 250 million for the Administration wing and Rs 1,834 million for CDA's reserves, an official said.
According to him, priority projects included development of a park enclave at a cost of Rs 584.7 million, upgradation of mini-markets in G and I sectors costing Rs 300 million, launching of Prime Minster's CDA Rapid Bus Transit at a cost of Rs 200 million. Upgradation of health services and installation and improvement of filtration plants were to be completed at a cost of Rs 150 million. As much as Rs 50 million were allocated for water conservation program, beautification and up-gradation of city and launching of people-friendly environment projects allocated Rs 150 million and development and rehabilitation of city center at F-7 at Rs 100 million.
Similarly, the CDA allocated Rs 100 million for the cleaning of Nullahs and ravines, Rs 100 million for development of Sector I-15, Rs 100 million for extension of Kuri Road up to Simly Dam Raod and Rs 50 million allocated for rainwater harvesting projects. Another Rs 50 million were set aside for improving tourism in the city.
The authority had launched Sector I-15 in 2005 for the provision of housing facility to low-income groups but the dream remains elusive as the city's managers have not yet succeeded in hiring a contractor for the purpose. The official said that the CDA launched the Park Enclave housing project, which consists of 700 houses in phase-I and another 600 houses in phase-II but have not yet started its development work. He said that the authority had proposed launching of a bus service between the twin cities as the level of service offered by mini-buses was below acceptable standard.