ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to prefer a flyover project over the proposed Bhara Kahu bypass project.

The Bhara Kahu bypass project, ground breaking of which was performed last May, has not yet started much to the inconvenience of the citizens who continue to face traffic congestion on Murree Road. However, sources said the engineering wing of the civic agency came up with a new proposal stating that construction of a flyover would solve the problem of traffic congestion.

The existing Kayani Road, which is linked with Quaid-i-Azam University road, will be used as bypass road and from the chowk, a flyover will be constructed.

“The proposed 8km Bhara Kahu bypass also has two major bridges in design. Under the new proposal we will have to construct a 4km road including a flyover, so this proposal is cost effective and we have decided to go for it,” said a senior officer of the civic agency.

He said the flyover project was easy to execute and could be completed within a year’s time while the bypass project could take several years to complete because the area was hilly.

When asked if the bypass road project has been abandoned, he said: “The project could be executed in the future, but yes we have decided to give priority to the flyover project.”

It is relevant to note here that the proposed bypass was to start from Malpur area and culminate near Satra Meel on Murree Road. Former prime minister Imran Khan had laid the foundation stone of the project in April last year near Quaid-i-Azam University.

Earlier, officials of the civic agency used to say that work on the bypass would be started soon after completion of first phase of the project – G.T. Road to D-12 – 80pc of which is complete.

They said that last year, CDA had engaged Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and Army’s E&C branch for construction of Margalla Road and designing, alignment etc, of the bypass as well.

In 2017, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had issued a directive for starting the Bhara Kahu bypass, however, no practical work was carried out in his tenure.

Thousands of people face traffic congestion in Bhara Kahu area of Murree Road on a daily basis.

“We have no issue, if CDA will construct bypass or will go for flyover, we want a solution, we want to get rid of massive traffic congestion in Bhara Kahu Chowk. We want early start of construction work,” said Bilal Khan, a shopkeeper of Bhara Kahu.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022