With Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate the Afghan Parliament building along with Afghan leaders soon, the Central Public Works Department is burning midnight oil to complete the project by December 31, the revised target for completion of project, that got delayed for various reasons.
The project for construction of Afghanistan Parliament building spread over 86 acres area has been undertaken by the public sector construction major, under the Urban Development Ministry.
“With PM Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate the building along with Afghan leaders soon, Madhusudhan Prasad, Secretary (UD) held a detailed review of the progress, works completed and still in progress recently,” said an official from the CPWD.
He said that it transpired during the review that CPWD is on course to complete the project by December 31. “There should be no reason to delay the project this time,” the official said.
In fact, UD Minister Venkaiah Naidu too had reviewed the progress twice in the past and asked Prasad to keep a tab on the progress to ensure that the latest deadline is not missed out.
The project has been reviewed time to time in the recent months. The original stipulated date of completion was November 2011.
As per official, more than 96 per cent of core project works, including civil, electrical and mechanical works has been completed and remaining are in progress and will be completed by December end to make it ready for inauguration.
Installation of sewage treatment plant, CCTV security systems, horticulture works, façade lighting, kitchens etc have been completed while installation of external fountains is almost complete. Water body systems on the Parliament premises have already been tested, the official added.
In March 2004, the Afghan Government had requested the Indian Government for assisting in construction of Parliament building. Subsequently, on August 2005, foundation was laid by the then PM of India.
After several hiccups in tenders and other administrative works, finally in December 2009, work were awarded to Indian Joint-Venture firm BSC-C&C. The Ministry of External Affairs had issued administrative and financial sanctions in January 2009 for Rs710 crore for the project.