Construction Monitoring & Evaluation Program (Strengthening & Improvement of Peshawar – Torkham Road, Khyber Agency) Monthly Progress Report # 36 (March 2016)

The project is a part of the National Highway (N-5) and plays a crucial role in facilitating economic activities and providing logistical support to security agencies in Khyber Agency. The project was initiated in 2012 with an Activity Agreement between the FATA Secretariat and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), obligating $67 million for the project. The project is being implemented by the FATA Secretariat and executed through the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) under the FARA contracting mode of USAID. FWO is responsible for the design and construction of the project, conforming to the National Highway Authority's (NHA) specifications and standard engineering practices. NESPAK is providing design and control services to FWO, while AGES Consultants has been entrusted with the Construction Monitoring and Evaluation Services, including Quality Assurance and Environmental Monitoring of the project on behalf of the USAID Pakistan Mission. As of March 2016, both flexible and rigid pavements of 46 km length have been substantially completed and are open for traffic. Construction activities on structure components are in progress, with 128/131 Nos. culverts, 18.79/19.88 km retaining walls, 2.34/2.34 km breast walls, 53.15/53.47 km drains, 83/85 Nos. utility ducts, and 11/11 Nos. causeways completed so far. The physical progress achieved during the reporting month was 0.47%, totaling 97.81% by the end of the month, with accruals of $82,517,390 out of $84,364,699. PIL-wise progress is as follows: PIL 01 (Section-I km 0+000 – km 9+000) is 100% completed, with all milestones certified and accrued expenditure of $9,978,082. PIL 02 (Section-II km 9+000 – km 14+000) is also 100% completed, with all milestones certified and accrued expenditure of $9,383,484. PIL 03 (Section-III km 14+000 – km 19+000) is 100% completed, with all milestones certified and accrued expenditure of $9,512,705. PIL 04 (Bridges at km 9+560 & km 23+750; Multi-cell culverts at km 11+190 & km 22+925) is 100% completed, with all milestones certified and accrued expenditure of $3,668,533. PIL 05 (Section-IV km 19+000 km 21+100 & km 22+400- km 24+000 & Loop # 02; Section-V km 21+100 - 22+400 and 24+000 - 29+000; Section-VI km 29+000- 33+000; Construction of Bridges at km 18+475, km 27+000 & km 27+250; Rehabilitation of Bridges at km 2+200, km 11+560 & km 21+320) reported no progress this month, with total physical progress remaining the same at 97% and accrued expenditure of $24,273,649 out of $25,444,269. PIL 06 (Section-VII km 33+000 - km 37+000; Section-VIII km 37+000 - km 41+000) achieved 1% progress, attaining total physical progress of 95% with accrued expenditure of $15,251,617 out of $17,626,462. PIL 07 (Section-IX km 41+000 - km 43+465 & Loop -3) achieved 2% progress, attaining total physical progress of 95% with accrued expenditure of $7,590,241 out of $8,751,166. Construction activities on additional works, including Jamrud By-pass, Landikotal Bazar & culverts, were also monitored. The constitution of remaining PILs is underway, with $87,000,000 obligated for the project. However, $84,364,699 consisting of 07 numbers of PILs have been approved till the reporting of this month. The expiry of PIL 05 and PIL 06 has been noted, with minor/ancillary works in progress. Payment issues for the relocated water supply system and rain damages to road structures have also been reported.