ISLAMABAD: Two of the main roads in Islamabad – Expressway and Park Road – are being expanded at a very slow pace, causing inconvenience to the citizens.

These projects have already missed their original deadlines and are being executed with the extended completion times. Apparently, the slow pace of work has perturbed newly-appointed CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, who visited both the sites and directed for their early completion.

The CDA chief directed that Park Road should be ready by June 15 along with the completion of a portion of Islamabad Expressway by July 15.

Park Road project was supposed to be completed by December last year, but its deadline was extended till May, which is also going to be missed, as major work on one side of the road is still incomplete.

The work on the right side of the road leading towards Tramri has shown significant progress but the left side of the artery still needs a lot of work. Due to the ongoing construction, commuters face traffic problems daily.

The CDA had awarded the contract of the Rs1.9 billion project to expand the road to the National Logistics Cell under clause 42(f) of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules, which allows bidding among government agencies only.

Until about two decades ago, the road was used only by residents of some villages/towns such as Lakhwal, Banigala, Rawal Town, Shahzad Town, Tramri and Chatta Bakhtawar. But due to the development of housing societies, marquees and educational institutions, it has turned into one of the busiest roads in the city.

Before the start of the work, the 7.4 km-long road had two lanes. The CDA is now adding an extra lane on either side besides overhauling the existing lanes to ease the traffic flow.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by CDA said that the chairman visited various projects, starting from Park Road.

“While giving briefing, he was informed that the total length of the Park Road expansion and maintenance project is 7.2 kilometres. 85% of the work on the western side has been completed. Work is in progress on the eastern carriageway of Park Road Rehabilitation Project. Similarly, the services lines of IESCO falling in the project are being shifted,” read the press release.

It said the chairman directed that the transfer of Iesco and other service lines should be ensured within five days. He also directed to accelerate the work and complete the project by June 15.

Meanwhile, Mr Randhawa also visited the Expressway to inspect the ongoing work. This project has already missed deadline and around 25pc work is still incomplete, causing hardship to the commuters.

The CDA had awarded the contract worth Rs10.9 billion to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) for the rehabilitation and expansion of the seven-kilometre portion of the expressway from PWD Interchange to GT Road in Rawat in September 2022, and the project was to be completed by March 20, 2024.

“There are three main reasons for the delay. A late start of the work on the project, time consumed in shifting of utility services and above all, inconsistent and slow release of funds,” said a senior CDA official. The Expressway is one of the main roads in the federal capital and caters to both light and heavy traffic, particularly between Islamabad and Lahore. Its widening from PWD to GT Road had been announced many times, but work was formally started in December 2022.

The press release said that the chairman was told that 75pc of work on Package-1 from Korang bridge had been completed. He was told that package one of the project also included construction of a railway bridge. Similarly, the PWD to T. Chowk portion of the project consists of two major bridges and an underpass.

Mr Randhawa directed that the speed of construction work on the project should be accelerated. Moreover, package one [one portion of ongoing work) of the expressway should be completed by July 15, adding that further delay would not be tolerated.

He also directed that all officers of the engineering wing should ensure their presence at the project sites. Similarly, assistant commissioners were also directed to monitor development projects.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024