ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to open the underpass on 7th Avenue Interchange in a few days. The interchange and its loops have already been opened to traffic.

“With dedicated efforts of CDA’s team, the interchange has been completed and already opened for public. In next few days, we will also open the underpass,” said CDA Chairman retired Capt Mohammad Usman.

“Now we are focusing to complete all other ongoing development projects within stipulated time,” he said.

This was among a few projects of the CDA which have been completed on time as its completion date was October 15.

CDA chief says focus now on completing other projects within stipulated time

In July last year, the then prime minister Imran Khan had performed the groundbreaking of the project worth Rs1.7 billion.

The interchange has been built at the junction of 7th Avenue, Srinagar Highway, Khayaban-i-Soharwardi and Garden Avenue near Aabpara.

It is cloverleaf with four left and right loops while there is an underpass to link both the portions of Khayaban-i-Soharwardi. All loops of interchange have been opened while on Tuesday carpeting of the portion of Srinagar Highway was also completed.

CDA officials said the carpeting of roads of the underpass will be started on Wednesday (today) and will be completed in two days.

Sources said the CDA management wanted to get the project inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif any time next week. They said efforts were being made to get time from the premier in this regard.

The contract of the project was won by National Logistics Cell (NLC) after submitting the lowest bid against the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), as the CDA had called tenders form government-run construction firms only under 42(F) of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s rules.

The interchange was planned in 2008 but the project could not see any practical progress till last year.

After opening of the interchange, motorists are enjoying smooth flow of traffic at the junction which used to witness congestion.

“We are happy on seeing the project complete. This is a big relief. I want to point out the issue of traffic congestion near Serena Hotel and would request the CDA chairman to construct an interchange at that point too,” said Waseem Ali, a motorist.

He said the CDA should also start its announced project of constructing overhead U-turns on Srinagar Highway.

It may be noted that last year the CDA had constructed several U-turns on Srinagar Highway from Peshawar Mor to Tarnol for smooth tariff flow. However, after removal of the traffic signals, the busiest highway has seen frequent accidents. To this, the CDA chairman recently directed completion of the design of elevated u-turns on the highway.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2022