ISLAMABAD: The second and final extended deadline for the completion of a portion of a road to link new Margalla Avenue with E-11 lapsed on January 31 with a minor work on the project still pending.

Sources said the contractor - National Legalistic Cell - had been requesting the CDA to clear its pending Rs600 million liability so that it could complete the remaining work and hand it over to the civic agency.

Only minor work such as installation of lights, lane marking and landscaping is pending and these could be completed within a few weeks provided the CDA pushes the contractor to complete the project as soon as possible.

Work on the 5.5km road worth around Rs4 billion, including an interchange, was started in December 2022 and was to be completed by June 2023. Its deadline was extended till August 15 before giving anther extension till January 31.

Second and final deadline for completion of 5.5km road ended on Jan 31

In 2022, the CDA had awarded the contract to the NLC against a bid of Rs3,983 million. Under the project, the 5.5km road was to be constructed from D-12 where Margalla Avenue ends and culminate at Khayaban-i-Iqbal in E-11, including construction of a flyover and an interchange at E-11.

After the construction of around 10km Margalla Avenue from G.T. Road to D-12 in December 2022, a large number of motorists are using it. However, after reaching D-12, they face difficulties. In view of the expected traffic congestion, the CDA had started to construct the 5.5km road to link it with E-11 and Khayaban-i-Iqbal.

Meanwhile, in June 2023, the CDA had also decided to construct 11th Avenue, which will be linked with this road as well, ultimately linking with Karnal Sher Khan Road (formerly IJP road). Last year, then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had laid the foundation of 11th Avenue, but its construction is yet to be started.

According to Islamabad’s master plan, the 33-km-long Margalla Avenue starts from G.T. Road and ends after passing through the foothills of Margallas. However, instead of constructing the road in one go, the CDA divided it into three parts. The major portion of the road has not been constructed yet.

In the first phase, the road was constructed from G.T. Road to D-12 while the second portion is being constructed from D-12 to E-11. The Bhara Kahu bypass has been completed in the third phase.

When contacted, an official in the CDA finance wing said funds would be released to the NLC soon to get the project completed.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024