Changes in BRT design slows down pace of work

PESHAWEAR: The "ill-timed" changes in the design of the Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) have slowed down the pace of work on the project and the provincial government has ultimately decided to create a new cell to monitor construction and improve coordination on the project.

The much-publicised BRT project has apparently hit barriers after a rabble of contractors and sub-contractors continued work apace for four months on a "half design" of the Rs49 billion project.

The recent changes in the project design or absence of a final design, as the officials associated with the project feared, are likely to cause delay of at least 12 months in its completion.

The officials, who wished not to be identified, owned up the reports of some serious blunders by both the executing agencies of the government as well as contractors that have put the project in an awkward construction phase.

During background interviews, the officials of the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) and Planning and Development (P&D) Department also pointed out lack of coordination between various sectors engaged in the project that is likely to mar the work on the much-trumpeted BRT.

The BRT project was criticised since its very outset for a number reason, its timeline being one of them. Many officials, opposition political parties and members of the media were of the opinion that completion of the rapid bus project in six months was very ambitious.

They also pinpointed shortcomings in the design of the project which could not be finalised even after four months.

However, these blunders and the changes in the design recently began drawing the attention of the provincial government and its bureaucracy connected to the project.

In particular, these issues were repeatedly raised in the social media.

The officials said the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) consultants were responsible for the project design and the PDA is the executing agency for the project.

They said three main contractors, including Sichuan Province Geological Engineering Company, Maqbool Associates Private limited and Ch. Abdul Latif and Sons Private Limited secured the contract to construct the project as a joint venture, but no Chinese engineers or other workers have so far been seen working on the project.

The reported changes or blunders included deviation from the original design in the Amn Chowk where transit station was converted into an "S-shape" reverse curve. However, it was decided afterward that the initial design needed to be restored.

The second alteration in the design came at Gulbahar, where initially an on-ground corridor for the BRT was planned, but later on the demand of the traders and residents it was decided that an elevated overhead corridor parallel to the Arbab Sikandar Khan Flyover would be built for the rapid bus.

The work on the BRT underpass at the Firdous area has also been stopped as its design hasn't been finalised yet.

The design for an elevated corridor also hasn't been finalised. Changes have also been made in the design of the Corridor near Tatara Park in Hayatabad.

One of the officials, while showing the documents to The News, said that lack of coordination for the project was a huge impediment.

He said the provincial government had decided to immediately establish a cell manned by seven engineers to monitor, supervise and ensure work and coordination on the project.

The project director and director general of the PDA, Israrul Haq, when contacted to comment on the alleged blunders in the project design and declining pace of work on the BRT, said that no blunders, whatsoever, had been made at any stage of work on the project.

The changes being made are actually site requirements which are part of such projects in the world, he said.

Israrul Haq said that no changes were being made in the design at the Amn Chowk.

"The design being restored at the section was actually part of Phase-II of the project. It has now been decided to construct and link it to Phase-II in the ongoing phase to save time and resources," he argued.

The PDA chief said design for the Gulbahar overhead corridor will be finalised in a week or so and that of the Firdous underpass within next two days.

He explained that in Tehkal, where an elevated corridor is being built, everything is going on as per project design. "In Hayatabad 40 piers have been erected and 50 more will be built in the next few days. No changes or demolition of piers is on the cards in the section," he added.

To a question about sub-contracting and Chinese contractors he said, "We are focusing on the pace and quality of work." He also ruled out any delay in the project and reiterated that it would be completed within the stipulated six months time.