ISLAMABAD: Following recent observations of the Supreme Court, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) decided to build a pedestrian bridge on Constitution Avenue near Pak Secretariat to facilitate the citizens.

Sources said during hearing of an encroachment case, the apex court observed that there was no facility for pedestrians on Constitution Avenue.

Later, the civic agency awarded the contract to Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC).

“It is to intimate your quoted rates for the subject arch type pedestrian bridge having a span of 50 meters at a cost of Rs38.99 million stand approved by the competent authority.

“It is therefore requested to immediately mobilise resources to start construction activities at site…under intimation to this office and furnish requisite documents for signing of contract agreement,” read the CDA letter issued on Jan 3.

Meanwhile, the CDA also awarded contract to the HMC to design, engineer, manufacture, supply, erect and install three overhead pedestrian bridges near H-9 Sunday Bazaar on Kashmir Highway, Faisal Avenue near Pims and Jinnah Avenue near the G-9 gate to Fatima Jinnah Park.

The sources said in all six pedestrian bridges would be installed in the capital.

According to PC-I finalised a few years ago, eight bridges were to be set up in different parts of the city.

But only two of them could be installed on Islamabad Highway. However, the sources said during the last one month the Secretariat project was expedited.

“Since Supreme Court also took up the issue, we expedited the project and soon the four new bridges would also be installed.

“Meanwhile, we are also working on the files of two more bridges which are to be installed on Faisal Avenue near Pims and on IJP Road,” an official of the CDA said.

When contacted, a CDA spokesperson confirmed that contract for four bridges had been awarded.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020