ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will likely inaugurate 32-km-long Margalla Avenue project on Monday.

Sources said that CDA’s team remained busy on weekend to do necessary work for the inauguration ceremony.

The Margalla Avenue is part of Islamabad’s master plan prepared in 1960 but it could not be constructed yet.

However, the present government decided to construct this road from Sangjani area on G.T. Road to Satra Meel.

Last month CDA board had decided to get this project done through ministry of defense.

Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and National Logistic Cell (NLC) are subsidiary organisations of the ministry and specialise in road construction and CDA board wants to see completion of this project on a fast track basis.

The board said there were certain strategic and defence communication infrastructure and installation located in various portions of the alignment of this project, therefore, it should be carried out through ministry of defense.

Subsequently, earlier this month, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) after relaxing its rules recommended the federal government to execute this project on single tender basis.

Sources said that earlier, CDA wanted to construct only 10-km road from G.T. Road to D-12 and left the second package up to Satra Meel for next project. The CDA had also called a tender for 10-km portion but it had to cancel it recently, when sources said that federal government directed CDA not to execute this important project in bits and pieces rather all 32km-long road be constructed in one go.

Sources said that this road will be part of Rawalpindi Ring Road as it would connect with Ring Road near G.T. Road and then touch eastern bypass near Satra Meel. They said that FWO will build the road.

The sources, however, said that the CDA would have to make amendment in master plan of Islamabad, as earlier, this road was supposed to be linked with Murree Road at Bhara Kahu area and now, if this will be linked with Murree Road, near Bhara Kahu, then there will be more traffic congestion instead of ease of traffic.

They said that it had been decided that a change would be made in alignment and Margalla Avenue will be linked with Murree Road after crossing Bhara Kahu.

As per existing master plan, it starts from G.T. Road and after passing through various areas it touches Constitution Avenue before moving towards Bari Imam side to culminate on Murree Road at Bhara Kahu.CDA officials said that arrangements are being made on both ends of the avenue-- one near Sangjani and the other near Quaid-i-Azam University-- for inauguration and the PM Office will decide inauguration site.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021