ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board is all set to authorise the civic agency to get two projects - construction of 7th Avenue Interchange and rehabilitation of I.J.P. Road - executed through the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

Sources told Dawn that the board in its meeting to be held on Friday will approve CDA’s request for awarding the contract for the projects.

“Yes, the board is going to take up this issue on Friday and we will approve it,” a board member said, adding along the alignment of both projects, several defence installations were set up and the FWO was a good option for the CDA to execute both projects smoothly.

The board member said CDA wanted to start both the projects within a month.

Approval to be given by CDA board in a meeting on Friday, say official

The interchange will be constructed at the junction of 7th Avenue and Srinagar Avenue near Aabpara.

Earlier, the CDA had called tenders and received bids from private contractors but later the civic agency cancelled the process and decided to get the project done through the FWO.

According to the CDA plan, the interchange worth Rs1.5 billion has been designed in the shape of a cloverleaf with four left and right loops. There will also be an underpass to link both portions of Khayaban-i-Suharwardi.

This project has been delayed for many years. Conceived in 2008, it was placed before CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) many times for approval of the PC-1 but every time there were objections. However, in a DWP meeting held in October last year, the PC-1 was approved.

On the other hand, in the absence of an interchange, motorists face congestion due to prolonged wait at traffic signals, particularly during rush hours.

However, the CDA board member said the civic agency was cognisant of the issue being faced by motorists and that was why it will engage services of the FWO for smooth completion of the project.

Meanwhile, sources said the CDA will also award the contract of expansion and overhauling of I.J.P. Road project worth Rs6 billion to the FWO.

The road connects Islamabad with Rawalpindi and is a major route for heavy transport coming from Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) towards Taxila, Attock and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Against its original design, it has been catering to heavy traffic for years.

This is the reason why the road is in a dilapidated condition.

The sources said no serious repair work was done during the last many years as a result of which potholes have developed all along the road. It is one of the busiest roads in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and is frequently used due to the presence of the general bus stand at Pirwadahi.

Similarly, traders of other parts of the country also use this road as the Sabzi Mandi and Islamabad’s wholesale market is situated along it.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2021