he Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) seems to be facing problems in finding specialised and competent firms/contractors that could execute the mega project (Package-2), involving a huge infrastructure and buildings` restoration or conservation work from Purani Kotwali to Bhati Gate.

The WCLA had got the Rs720 million project approved by the Punjab government a couple of months ago to get it completed within the next couple of years.

Besides state-of-the-art infrastructure, the project involves laying new sewer lines and electricity and telephone cables, reconstruction of roads and rehabilitation of about 500 residential/commercial buildings and some Havelis.Officials said tenders were floated to invite the contractors for bidding.

`But when we opened the tenders last month, we were surprised to see that only one contractor had applied for it.

Moreover, the contractor had no prior experience of the restoration work,` WCLA director (administration) Shahid Nadeem told Dawn.

He said as there was only one bidder and it was decided to retender the project. However, in the second invitation for tenders too, there were just five bidders. They had insufficient knowledge of the restoration work but all of them appeared in joint ventures with the individuals or small contractors who had some related experience.

`Now we are thinking who should we award this project as some of them evenlack the required documents to fulfill the legal formalities,` the official added.

When asked about the reason, Mr Nadeem said a majority of construction firms/contractors always took interest in the project that could be completed within the shortest time. But the infrastructure/restoration work (like this project) in the Walled City required almost two to three years. Besides, it is difficult to carry out such important work in narrow streets and intersections.

`That`s why the contractors prefer to avoid such kind of projects. Though we are concerned, we will soon find firms having expertise in restoration work, Nadeem said.

Talking about another mega scheme, he said the WCLA had sent Lahore Fort`s complete restoration project worth Rs735m to the Punjab government forapproval through the Archaeology department. Similarly, a project of installing lights at Lahore fort, Badshahi Mosque and Minar-i-Pakistan was also in the approvalphase,he said.

L ast week, the City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) decided to review its strategy for removing encroachments, advising the senior officials to devise an affective work plan in this regard.

According to the officials, the decision to change the strategy was taken after the CDGL`s top slots found the routine drives unsuccessful as the traders, shopkeepers and vendors continued encroaching on the public places, including footpaths, soon after such operations.`The CDGL officials are of the view that the TMAs should first identify the potential sites where massive encroachments have put the public mobility at risk, warn the shopkeepers, after consultations with the traders` unions, to remove encroachments voluntarily and then launch a grand operation,` a senior CDGL official told Dawn.

He said at present the TMAs were executing the drive under their own plans.

But by next week, they would be liable to launch such operations by involving all stakeholders under intimation to the city administration. `It will also help the CDGL to avoid unnecessary complaints from the traders and public at large,` he said, adding that a monitoring unit was also under consideration to evaluate such drives. khalidpak284@yahoo.com