ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) expects to complete a portion of Margalla Road within a month. The project, extending from the edge of the Constitution Avenue, will be linked to Bari Imam Road near the mausoleum.

The base work for this road was completed during President Pervez Musharraf’s era but the project was halted in 2007.

Last week, CDA resumed work, and the 1.5km stretch is now being executed by CDA’s own Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO).

A CDA official stated that upon completion, the existing Bari Imam Road should also be expanded, or a new 3km road constructed to link Margalla Avenue with Murree Road.

“By being linked with Murree Road, the new bypass will provide great relief to residents of Islamabad-Murree and Kashmir to reach Murree Road near Quaid-i-Azam University within a few minutes. Currently, during the weekend people face traffic congestion near the Lakeview Chowk. The new bypass will ensure smooth traffic flow,” the official said.

However, an officer of the civic body involved in the project said the civic agency was currently focusing only on the 1.5km road, which remained unattended for the last 17 years.

“After its completion we will look at how it can be linked with Murree Road,” he added.

The project was originally halted in 2007 due to “security issues”. However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi resolved this issue and the CDA resumed work as per his directives.

CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, accompanied by relevant officers, visited the project site on Monday and reviewed the ongoing work.

According to a press release, the CDA chairman was briefed that at present the relocation of Iesco’s power lines at the site was underway. He was further informed that the ongoing heavy spells of monsoon rains have affected the pace of work. Despite this, about 70pc of the base work on the southern carriageway of the project has been completed, while 1km of base work on the northern carriageway has also been completed.

The CDA chief said construction of this portion of Margalla Avenue would significantly improve traffic flow in the city.

“The current work on the construction and widening of Margalla Road, which had been stalled since 2008, has been restarted which would be completed promptly on the instructions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi,” the press release said.

Mr Randhawa also visited the Jinnah Convention Centre where he was briefed about the ongoing renovation and refurbishment work.

He emphasised that the pace of the renovation work at the Convention Centre should be accelerated and that international standards should be maintained, the press release added.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024