ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday stated that more than 50pc work on Bhara Kahu bypass had been completed.

“Work on Bhara Kahu bypass is in full progress. More than 50 per cent of the work is completed. This project will reduce traffic congestion and pollution and will also facilitate the tourists going towards Murree,” the CDA tweeted on Sunday following the visit of its chairman to the construction site.

The CDA chairman, retired Capt Mohammad Usman, along with Member Engineering Syed Munawar Shah and others visited the project site.

The member engineering and director Rana Tariq briefed the chairman about the progress on the project.

Sources said the CDA chairman directed the engineering wing to complete the project as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while inaugurating the project in September this year had directed the CDA to complete it till February 10.

The sources said work was going on round the clock but it seemed the mega project cannot be completed by Feb 10. The sources said even if the project of around six kilometres road, which has one interchange, a bridge, three underpasses and more than one km flyover, was completed by the end of March it will be a big achievement for the CDA.

An official said after seeing the scope of the work, he believed that the project could not be completed till April 15.

The bypass project worth Rs6.5 billion starts from Malpur and also crosses from Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) land.

According to the CDA, 199 kanal land of the university falls in the alignment of the road while CDA in return has already offered 225 kanals to the QAU. However, the project faced controversy when QAU faculty members filed a court case and obtained a stay order which continued for around two months.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently dismissed the petition of the faculty members. Following this, the CDA expedited the work at the QAU portion. Meanwhile, the QAU filed an intra-court appeal in the IHC.

The 5.6 km-long road (including a 1km flyover) starts from Murree Road at Malpur and culminates on Murree Road near the Jugi bus stop adjacent to Punjab Cash and Carry in Bhara Kahu from where the flyover begins till the end of the local bazaar towards Murree.

A CDA official said 100pc pile work had been completed and now the civic agency was focusing on pile capping work while underpasses were also near completion.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2022