ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was working on a plan to maintain traffic flow at F-10 roundabout as the ongoing underpass project would be opened to traffic on Dec 31.

Currently, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is executing the underpassproject worth Rs4.1 billion at the junction of Jinnah Avenue and 9th Avenue. It was reported that the project will ease the traffic flow at one point but pile it up and create a mess on the other side – F-10 roundabout.

However, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi took notice of this issue some days ago and had directed the civic agency to come up with a solution.

Besides getting briefing about the ongoing project during his visit to the project site on Wednesday, Mr Naqvi also got updates of the plan to ease traffic at F-10 roundabout, directing that the project should also be completed together with the underpass project.

“F-10 Chowk will also be made signal-free to maintain traffic flow on Jinnah Avenue,” the minister said during his visit.

He also reviewed the layout plan for the F-10 Chowk project and made necessary changes in the plan. “Our aim is to provide every possible facility to citizens and with the inauguration of these projects, the public will see a significant improvement in Islamabad’s traffic,” the minister said.

According to a statement issued by interior ministry, the minister during his visi said:“Construction work on the F-10 Chowk project will be started soon so that the project can also be completed along with the F-8 Exchange Interchange [Jinnah/9th Avenue].” The statement quoting interior minister said that underpass of the interchange will be opened for traffic on Dec 31 and the complete project [flyover] will be inaugurated in the second week of February.

The statement said that Mr Naqvi directed that the project should be completed within the stipulated time frame.

The press release said that minister appreciated the contractor, CDA and workers for work ing on the project round the clock even during the protest, advising them to continue working with the same zeal and spirit.

Earlier, minster was briefed that piling work of the project will be completed on Dec 3, while the pile cap work will be completed by Dec 12. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the project will be completed in record time.

The foundation stones of the project along with Serena underpasses were laid down by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Nov 5. The Jinnah Avenue project is supposed to be completed in 100 days while Serena underpasses project is supposed to be completed in 60 days.

“Taking notice of F-10 roundabout issue is positive approach of interior minister. I expect a similar action from him for resolving issue of Serna project, as one of its underpasses will be of no use, if an underpass or a bridge is not built on Murree Road to provide traffic from Murree direct access to Srinagar Highway,” said an official.

Under over Rs4 billion Serna project, the CDA is constructing three underpasses one on Khyaban-i-Soharwardi and two on Srinagar Highway.

However, CDA’s member engineering Syed Nafasat Raza said: “We will fix the connectivity issue of Murree traffic with Srinagar Highway,” the member said.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024