Srinagar, July 19: The Asian Development Bank loan worth millions of rupees meant for “improvement/ up gradation” of SMHS-SKIMS road has lapsed as the Economic Reconstruction Agency failed in the timely execution of the  project, highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir.
 They said macadamization of the road, in a bad condition for the past over five years, was likely to be handed over to the Roads and Building department.
 The project, which started with the laying of pipeline in 2007 was scheduled to be completed within 18 months. But around five years on, its yet to be completed as the restoration of the road, particularly between the two key hospitals in the City is awaited.
 Sources said after the laying of pipeline along Dr Ali Jan road, the project executing agency failed in the macadamization of the road.
 “There was a deadlock between the contractor( a non-local firm) and the ERA over project cost escalation. Even though we finally agreed to hike the project price, the contractor declined to repair the road,” the sources said.
 But this was around two years ago. Since then the ERA doesn’t seem to have even bothered to get the road macadamized despite its importance.
 The incomplete work has not only left one of the two lanes closed  for vehicular traffic, the condition of the rest of the road stretch is dilapidated.
 While during traffic jams, the traffic movement slows down, the problem is deadly at other times when speeding vehicles particularly ambulances come across the deadly potholes.
 The doctors have been saying that the condition of the patients could deteriorated due to the “bumpy travel.”
 When contacted the ERA Chief Engineer Khalid Muzaffar admitted that the contract with the non-local company has been terminated.
 To a question he said the new tendering by ERA for macadamization was avoided as it would be “time consuming.”
 “The ADB standards of tendering would take time to complete,” he said.
 “But I am not sure whether or not the ADB funds have lapsed and who will pay for it,” he added.
 He said the work was likely to be handed over to the R&B department

Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST