ISLAMABAD: The new Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman has taken notice of the closure of Bhara Kahu bypass for heavy vehicles and directed the engineering wing to open this road to all kinds of traffic after installing speed breakers and signboards.

He also directed the civic authority to rehabilitate Murree Road beneath the Bhara Kahu bypass, which had been lying in a shambles since the start of the construction work.

Chairing a meeting to review ongoing development work, the CDA Chairman retired Capt Anwarul Haq while getting briefing on Bhara Kahu bypass, asked the engineering wing that after spending billions of rupees on this project, why it had not been opened to heavy traffic.

The engineering wing told the meeting that due to speeding issue, the heavy traffic was not allowed on bypass. The chairman, the sources said, directed the civic body that after getting input from the traffic police and installing speed breakers to control speed of heavy vehicles, the road should be opened to all kinds of traffic.

He also ordered rehabilitation of service road on both side of bypass to connect the underpasses to the relief of the local community.

The sources said that during the meeting, the chairman and member engineering offered representative of National Logistics Cell (NLC) to take the rehabilitation of Murree Road and service roads as additional work. The NLC constructed the bypass road, therefore, CDA offered it to do service road and Murree Road work as additional work.

CDA officials said former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took personal interest in completion of Bhara Kahu bypass. Thousands of people use the bypass on daily basis. On the other hand, the missing links between the underpasses are also creating problems for the commuters.

However, CDA officials said: “We are cognizant of the issue of dilapidated condition of Murree Road and delinking of underpasses with others in the absence of service roads. Keeping in view of urgency, we offered NLC to do this work as additional work. Hopefully, within few days, they will respond, otherwise we will go for new tender to engage a private construction firm.”

When contacted, member engineering CDA Syed Munawar Shah also confirmed that heavy traffic will be allowed on bypass soon while the remainder work will also be completed.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023