ISLAMABAD: The pace of work on the expansion of Islamabad Expressway should be expedited to complete it without further delay for the convenience of commuters.

This was demanded by citizens as they urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take notice of the issue. Residents of various housing societies adjacent to Islamabad Expressway face a gridlock for hours due to the unfinished PWD Interchange and expansion of Korang Bridge as the contractors, Maqbool Associates and Calson, left the project incomplete, citing an increase in the cost of material. Travelling on the PWD underpass is even more dangerous at night due to absence of proper lights.

“We expect from the prime minister that he will intervene and issue orders for work to be sped up on the project as this will make travelling hassel-free for hundreds of people who use the road daily,” said Zahoor Ahmed.

“The incomplete underpass and heaps of garbage around the area also expose commuters to health issues,” said Rehan, a frequent commuter who travels from Blue Area to Media Town.

When contacted, a CDA official said the civic authority was already working on the expansion of Islamabad Expressway and different portions of the busy road would be completed in different phases.

The official said the contractor had left the work saying that due to increase in the price of construction material, particularly steel, his buying capacity had been badly affected, and he was unable to carry out the project.

The official admitted that there had been a delay in expansion of Korang Bridge and the contractor had already been served with a notice to complete the project under the stipulated time.

“We are mulling over various options for expediting the project and the fate of the project would be determined soon,” he said, adding the authority wanted the project to be completed at the earliest and it can also go for re-tendering, if a need arises.

It may be mentioned that Maqbool and Calsons have not been able to complete another project – the Rawal Dam Interchange - despite being given more time by the civic body.

The signal-free corridor from Zero Point to Rawat was PML-N’s flagship project, the first phase of which was completed (from Zero Point to Faizabad) in their previous tenure. The PTI government could not provide adequate funds for the project which caused inordinate delay, a source in the civic body told this agency.

A senior CDA official said the project concept-I (PC-I) of Rs8.5 billion had been prepared in which two bridges would also be constructed at Naval Anchorage and Kak Pul.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2022