ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to complete the Bhara Kahu bypass within four months and ensure that the inter-city bus service was made operational within one month.

He issued these directives while inaugurating the flyover of Rawal Dam Interchange project.

Completing the Bhara Kahu bypass within four months is completely doable, PM Sharif said, adding that in Lahore and Murree, his team completed major projects in four months.

The prime minister also announced that he would award a medal to CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed if the bypass was completed within the given time, also directing the civic body to complete the remaining work on the Rawal Dam Interchange as soon as possible.

Inaugurates Rawal Dam Interchange’s flyover; gives one month to civic body to start inter-city bus service

Prime Minister Sharif appreciated the civic body’s chief, his team as well as the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for completing the flyover project in record time, adding that it was good to see the chairman having changed himself.

“Had he [chairman of CDA] changed himself earlier, Islamabad would have changed by now, but it is never too late,” the prime minister said.

It is relevant to note here that in April this year after completing around 50pc of the work, the previous contractor left the project halfway.

The CDA then engaged the FWO to complete the remaining work. While visiting the site in April, the prime minister had directed the civic body to complete this project by September by all means.

The original deadline of this project, worth Rs1.1 billion, is October, however, on the directions of PM Sharif, officials of the civic agency remained on their toes during the last three days to complete it.

Now, the flyover has been completed and it is expected that the remaining work will also be completed within one month.

Earlier, while talking about bus services, Mr Sharif said the CDA chief had sought two months to start the inter-city bus service, but he was giving him one month to launch the service.

Bhara Kahu bypass

The project has been facing delay causing unrest among citizens as traffic congestion is common on Murree Road.

The 7.8km long bypass, which is part of the Margalla Road project, was designed to provide an alternative route to those travelling towards Murree, Galyat and Kashmir.

The proposed bypass will 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, but work on this project is yet to begin.

Meanwhile, sources said the CDA had already decided to prefer a flyover project over the proposed Bhara Kahu bypass project. Sources said the engineering wing of the civic agency came up with a new proposal stating that construction of a road cum flyover would solve the problem of traffic congestion.

They said a new road would be constructed along the existing Kayani Road, which is linked with Quaid-i-Azam University Road, and it will be used as bypass road near Kayani Bridge to Jugi stop from where a flyover will be built till the end of Bhara Kahu (towards Murree Road).

CDA officials said the project could not be completed in four months as a lot of cut and fill is involved in this project, however, they added that the road project from Kayani Bridge to Jugi stop and then flyover from Jugi towards end of the bazaar is doable.

CDA will place both options before the prime minister, they said.

Commenting on the PM’s directive, former senator Enver Baig, who is a local of the area, said the bypass project should have been done before the Rawal Dam Interchange project, adding that the project was not required and there was no serious traffic hazard but just because of the “high and mighty living in Chak Shahzad and surrounding areas” the CDA carried out work on it first.

“Now, after prime minister’s directive and ultimatum , I am hopeful that the CDA will complete the Bhara Kahu bypass, which is most urgently needed within four months’ time. I have also seen ambulances stuck in traffic jam in Bhara Kahu,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2022