ISLAMABAD: National Highways Authority (NHA) has asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to repair and overhaul a portion of Murree Road, which was damaged during construction of Bhara Kahu bypass, as public is suffering because of dilapidated condition of the road.

The NHA is custodian of Murree Road while CDA is owner of Bhara Kahu bypass. During construction of the bypass, the portion of Murree Road beneath the flyover was badly damaged.

However, after completion of bypass road, the CDA has not repaired it as yet.

Similarly, the underpasses of bypass road are also not connected with each other because the service roads on both sides are yet to be constructed.

Road damaged during bypass construction

Sources said that people have been complaining about dilapidated and bumpy condition of the road. Perturbed over complaints, the NHA called a meeting of CDA officials the other day, which was chaired by Member Engineering and Coordination of NHA.

The meeting, which held at NHA headquarters was attended by officers concerned of both the organisations.

During the course of meeting, NHA officials asked CDA for early start of repair work of Murree Road as public is facing hardship. A source in NHA told Dawn that CDA’s director general and other officials assured the meeting that work will be started soon as CDA’s talks were underway with contractor National Logistic Cell (NLC), which had constructed the bypass road.

The meeting was told that CDA wants to get the work of overhauling of Murree Road and linking the underpasses (which is CDA’s internal issue) through the service road from the NLC as additional work.

When contacted, a CDA officer who attended the meeting confirmed to Dawn that NHA has been pleading for repair and overhaul of Murree Road.

“Yes, a meeting has been held and we assured the NHA that we will carry out this work,” he said and added that NHA had issued NOC for start of bypass project on a condition that CDA will carry out repair work of Murree Road after completion of the project.

The bypass was pet project of Shehbaz Sharif led PDM government and it was completed within 10 month time because of personal interest of then prime minister, who inaugurated it a few days before completion of his tenure.

“We are very happy, the bypass road is amazing as now without traffic jam within few minutes motorists crosses Bhara Kahu. But, it seems, after inauguration and opening the road for motorists, the CDA has lost its interest in this project as Murree Road is still dilapidated and service roads were not constructed to link underpasses, the government should take notice of this,” said Mohammad Nadeem, a shopkeeper.

However, a senior CDA officer said that civic agency would carry out remaining work. “We have taken up this issue with NLC, requesting it to do these works as additional work, as we want to avoid new tendering process. We are hopeful, the NLC will start this work soon, otherwise, we will go for fresh tender for the project,” said an engineer of CDA.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2023