ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has decided to expand a portion of Srinagar Highway from 7th Avenue Interchange to Serena Chowk as part of the ongoing project.

The civic agency is executing the Rs4 billion project to ease traffic congestion on the converging point of Srinagar Highway and Khayban-i-Suharwardi near Serena Hotel. Last year, the CDA had floated the tender seeking solution to the gridlocks at this point, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (during the PDM government) had refused to lay the foundation stone of the project at the eleventh hour and sought a presentation on the Railcop, which had won the project. Later, when the tenure of the PDM government ended, the CDA cancelled the tender. This year, a new company won the bid. The project has been started with a new PC-I design.

Sources said the rehabilitation and widening of about one kilometer portion of Srinagar Highway was not part of the ongoing project. They said the expansion of the road was not even part of the design of the project.

However, CDA’s media director Shahid Kayani rejected this and said without widening of the portion of Srinagar Highway, the desired results of easing traffic congestion through Serena project could not be achieved.

“This portion of road would be expanded together with the Serena project and I was told by the concerned officer that widening of the road was also part of the main Serena project,” he said.

Currently, from 7th Avenue interchange to Serena, the road is congested which requires expansion on either side at least up to the gate of Pakistan Sports Board.

The sources said expansion of the road should be carried out as part of ongoing project so that the issue of traffic congestion could be resolved.

“This small but important work should also be carried out along with the main Serena project,” said a deputy director of CDA.

Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stones of Serena Chowk worth Rs4.2 billion (which has three underpasses and several loops) and of PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue worth Rs4.1 billion.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and CDA had set the target of completing the Serena project within 60 days while the 9th Avenue project is supposed to be completed in 100 days.

Chairman CDA Mohammad Ali Randhawa, according to a press release issued on Tuesday, visited the sites of both the projects and reviewed the development works. The press release said the CDA chief expressed his satisfaction on the progress of work.

Giving a briefing to the chairman, CDA officials said transfer of electricity, gas and other service lines was going on fast and the work was being done simultaneously on different parts of both the projects. Work has also been started on both underpasses of Serena Chowk Interchange.

Mr Randhawa directed that the speed of ongoing construction on the projects should be accelerated and both projects should be completed within the stipulated period. He said the relevant team of the consultant - Nespak - should ensure their presence at the sites. He said work on the flyover at Jinnah Avenue Interchange should also be started soon, adding beautification work should be planned along with the construction work of both the projects.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024