ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has written to the prime minister, seeking Rs10 billion in special funding for the expansion of Islamabad Expressway up to the G.T. Road.

CDA Chairman Usman Akhtar Bajwa wrote to the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) on Monday, for onward submission to the Prime Minister’s Office, requesting Rs10bn to begin work on the expansion of the expressway from the Koral interchange to the G.T. Road.

The CDA has decided that the expansion from Koral to the G.T. Road – the third phase of a project to expand Islamabad Expressway – will be divided into two phases.

The first will consist of expanding the road from the Koral Interchange to Naval Anchorage, a stretch of five kilometres, while the second phase will cover the 7km distance from Naval Anchorage to G.T. Road.

Letter from CDA chairman sent to CADD for onward submission to PM Office

“Our letter was dispatched to CADD the other day for onward submission to the Prime Minister’s Office. We are making an all out effort to begin this public welfare project [as soon as possible],” Member Engineer Shahid Sohail said.

He said the initial survey for the third phase was ongoing, and work has begun to shift service lanes, electricity poles and gas lines that will fall in the construction area. When asked when work would begin, he said: “I guess, if funds are allocated, the project could be started at the start of the next financial year.”

Mr Sohail said the Islamabad Expressway as a main artery of the capital that carries interprovincial traffic and connects the twin cities.

The project to widen the expressway was inaugurated by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in July 2015.

Under the original PC-I, the expressway was to be widened to five lanes from Zero Point to the G.T. Road in Rawat, linking in to Motorway II, within two years, in order to make a signal-free corridor.

The CDA in 2015 changed the PC-I and decided to execute the project in three phases due to financial constraints.

The first phase consisted of widening 4km of the expressway from Zero Point to Faizabad.

It was completed after several post-bid changes and is also the subject of an ongoing inquiry.

The portion of the second phase that consisted of widening the road from Faizabad to the Koral interchange has been completed, but the construction of Khanna Bridge will reportedly be completed by June this year.

Mr Sohail said that for Koral interchange to Naval Anchorage, the CDA will expand the existing four lanes to eight, by adding two rigid lanes and rehabilitating flexible lanes.

Three bridges – at Korang, Bhinder and the Railways stop – will be constructed, as well service roads.

In the final portion, the existing four lanes will be widened to eight, the Soan Bridge will also be widened and a flyover will be constructed at the G.T. Road. Two underpasses, on the Kahuta and Japan roads, will also be built.

The member engineering said that Rs5.8bn are required for the widening of the expressway from Koral interchange to Naval Anchorage, and Rs5bn are required for the final portion, bringing the total to 10.8bn.

CDA officials have said that once started, the third phase of the project could be completed within two years.

CDA officials said that the authority has already executed an underpass at Gulberg Green on the expressway, and a flyover bridge at Naval Anchorage, through respective housing societies at their own cost.

A no-objection certificate has also been issued to the Defence Housing Authority for the construction of an interchange.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2018