ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to provide direct links to F-8 and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) side from Jinnah Avenue.

For this purpose, the CDA will construct two loops on each side of the existing underpass on Faisal Avenue and Blue Area.

The decision was taken in a meeting held at the CDA headquarters with Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed in the chair. The meeting also approved the design of the loops prepared by planning wing of the civic agency.

“Today, we approved the design of two loops to provide direct links to traffic from Jinnah Avenue for Pims and F-8 side,” the CDA Chairman told Dawn.

He said that the Machinery Pool Organisation (MPO) of CDA had been assigned the task to carry out the construction of the loops.

He said that in addition to the project, the MPO will also carry out widening of the road in front of Serena Hotel to ease traffic in a portion of Srinagar Highway and Khyaban-i-Soharwardi.

The CDA chief said both projects will be started from Saturday (today) and widening of the portion of the road will be completed within a few days. The construction of loops will be completed in two months.

Currently, massive traffic jam takes place at Serene Chowk as the road has not been widened in accordance with the need.

During rush hours, a portion of Khyaban-i-Soharwardi and Srinagar Highway face massive traffic jam as traffic coming from Parliament House and Pak Secretariat use these roads to move towards Club Road/Murree Road.

The CDA has its own asphalt plant and machinery for carrying out repair and maintenance work and for executing small construction projects it has a separate directorate - MPO.

During the meeting, the CDA chairman said that it had been decided that the MPO directorate will be engaged for projects on a priority basis.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2021