Karachi:
The controversy of the sudden suspension of the Green Line project was further elaborated as the federal government distanced itself from the responsibility and said, “The case lies between the mayor of the Karachi and the contractor.”
Clarification, Federal Government spokesman Barrister Raja Ansari said the question came from objections raised by the Karachi mayor of the contractor’s certificate (NOC) No-Belassion (NOC).
He noted that the center remained obliged to provide transport facilities to the population of Karachi and had already released funds for the project.
The federal and SINDH governments are in contact with regard to the Multi-billion project, Ansari said, adding coordination with the local government and the Karachi mayor does not fall below the center.
He said, “The federal government, in collaboration with the Sindh government, had accelerated work with the green line extension,” added “Construction from Numaish to Jama -cloth went well.”
The spokesman added that he personally inspected the project a few days ago and urged the mayor to clarify the nature of his objections.
Karachi Mayor stops the RS30B Green Line project
Earleir this week, worked with Green Line Phase-II corridor project trait from Guru Mandir to Municipal Park-Stopped due to a dispute between Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Pidcl), a federal government unit.
The disagreement led to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab ordering the suspension of the ongoing development work, referring to procedural violations.
KMC stopped the federally funded project, valued at RS30 billion, on the grounds that Pidcl had not obtained a No Option Certificate (NOC) from the municipal authorities before starting work.
The project, a central infrastructure initiative under the Federal Government’s Karachi development plan, is considered critical for facilitating urban city.
However, Pidcl -Employees dismissed strongly KMC’s action and stated that the required NOC was already secured before the project commencement. They argued that it was unacceptable and counterproductive to stop a federal sanctioned project without written notice and on the basis of verbal orders.
According to Pidcl, if the mayor or KMC had any reservations, they should have formally communicated through a letter requesting the production of NOC that the agency would have easily delivered.
Pidcl also claimed to be in possession of a NOC issued on October 12, 2017 with the signature of Superintendent Engineer of KMC’s engineering department (I & QC). The Agency expressed strong dissatisfaction with the suspension of work.
Meanwhile, KMC officials maintained that no valid NOC had been issued for the second phase of the Green Line project and the decision to stop the construction was made on the explicit instructions from Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
The case has allegedly escalated to a point where a meeting is expected between Mayor Wahab and Senior PidCL officials, including CEO Waseem Bajwa and General Manager Shafi Chhachhar, to resolve Impasse.
After KMC’s intervention, the contractor has ceased operations and withdrawn staff and equipment so far.
