SRI AMAN: The Ulu Paku road upgrading project, valued at RM19.1 million, is set to be completed on April 12 next year following an extension of time (EOT) approval due to design changes and weather factors.
The project was initially scheduled to be finished on July 12 of this year. However, an announcement of an EOT of 219 days was made during a briefing session led by Sri Aman Public Works Department (PWD) assistant divisional engineer Bellgalmano Low at the Ulu Paku project site office in Undop, Sri Aman.
According to Bellgalmano, as of February 2023, the physical progress of the project was at 18.95 per cent, significantly behind the target of 77.15 per cent.
Deputy Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis has led a delegation from the Sarawak Administrative and Development Office (SADA), including Datuk Indit Bangai as well as representatives from various relevant agencies.
Harden, who is also the Simanggang assemblyman, reminded the contractor of their full commitment to a catch-up plan in order to accelerate construction work and meet the new completion date.
“We sincerely hope that this project runs smoothly, and the contractor must fully commit to completing the project within the newly approved timeframe.
“Increase the number of workers and facilities on site so that the equipment needs are always met.
“Don’t make too many excuses, and at the same time, there is no solution to speed up the construction process,” he said during his visit to the project site here yesterday (March 24).
Harden and his delegation also visited the proposed Ulu Paku road extension project, which will connect Sekolah Kebangsaan Paku to Kampung Sungai Putong and then to the border with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The road is regarded as an important cross-border connection, and the proposal includes plans to build an Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) facility in the area to prepare for the anticipated increase in legal entry points when Indonesia moves its administrative centre to Kalimantan.
