March 14, 2003	Friday	Muharram 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 13: While the recent rains badly damaged various roads and streets in the federal capital, exposing the designing faults as well as the bad quality of material, the wet spell also pushed the re-construction plans of the roads in sector I-10 and I-11 far behind the original schedule.

The roads in sector I-10 and I-11 had been in a very bad shape for a long time and only last year the complete re-surfacing/construction of the Service Road in I-9, I-10 and the double road in I-11 was ordered by the chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The CDA chief especially directed the departments concerned to complete the I-11 part of the roads on urgent basis as the new general bus stand of the federal capital was to be built there.

However, slow pace of work in the first phase and then the prolonged wet spell badly affected the scheduled construction/re- surfacing plan of roads in I-10 and I-11 sectors.

At the same time, the rains damaged big parts of the under construction roads like this one in the picture close to the wholesale fruit and vegetable market of Islamabad.

The small pits and holes in the roads gradually turned into big, life-threatening manholes as the soil was swept away by rain water during the wet spell.

At the same time, some big cavities emerged beneath the underconstruction double road in sector I-11, again caused by the storm water following recent rains, which also have damaged the under-construction roads.

The situation is badly affecting the life of people in the area as well as those who commute daily between Rawalpindi and Islamabad through this road, which provides a short-cut to reach offices.

Besides, as the only wholesale fruit and vegetable market of the federal capital is located here, there is always a consistent flow of heavy traffic, trucks and vans bringing in fresh perishable commodities for the local markets on daily basis.

All this had made the situation even worse for the general public as well as the fruit and vegetable merchants and traders, who frequently commute through this route.

And because of the bad condition of these roads in sector I- 10 and I-11, a big chunk of transport has already switched over to other roads, especially on the I.J Principal Road, causing extra rush on this already very busy road.

The representatives of the fruit and vegetable market in particular and people commuting through these roads in general have appeal to the CDA chairman to take note of the situation and order an early completion of these roads.