Islamabad Expressway

THE signal-free corridor from Zero Point to Rawat was inaugurated on June 30.

In the first phase, the portion between Zero Point to Faizabad was undertaken for widening of the existing Islamabad highway and construction of an intersection at Shakarparian.

Although the excavation work on the project commenced the very next day, it seems doubtful if the target of completing the project within the stipulated schedule of four months will be met.

Owing to the fact that the intersection is connected to a number of schools, the contractors should have worked round-the-clock during the school summer vacations for early completion of the project.

Second, since heavy traffic is restricted on this section, an underpass at this point would have sufficed instead of going for five lanes and an intersection.

One fails to comprehend the logic of the Capital Development Authority in giving priority to this particular section of the expressway.

Muhammad K. Sufi

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 8th , 2015

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Comments (2) Closed

khaled

Oct 08, 2015 10:46am

'One fails to comprehend the logic of the Capital Development Authority in giving priority to this particular section of the expressway'. The logic is very simple, top bureaucrats and CDA high officials either live or have houses in sector I/8, who will benefit the most from the expansion of this section of the road. Secondly this area falls in the constituency in ICT where the opposition candidate won the National Assembly seat, thus the ruling party wants to influence the voters for the coming Local bodies’ election by initiating such projects in their constituency. Although the rural NA seat in ICT was won by the ruling party, to please them the government could have initiated with the Airport intersection and expansion onwards to Rawat. It reminds one of the proverb ,‘ bird in hand is better than two in the bush’.

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M K Sufi

Oct 08, 2015 07:19pm

In the first instance Islamabad was never intended to be a "commercial city." Secondly widening of roads in no solution. Moreover we are not in favor of a comfortable and efficient public transport either. The GT/Omni bus services, Varan Bus service had to go off the roads.! The next option is cycle richshaw, motor richshaw and tonga. We are used to this mode of transportation. A town is planned for 50/100 years. Changes in roads, buildings etc have to be made whenever and wherever required. A town is planned with a vision keeping in views the future expansion. There is price for everything. CDA should ensure while engaging firms for such projects that they have the necessary expertise and equipment. Work on such project should be round the clock with minimum inconvenience to the road user.

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