ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday opened bids for the T-Chowk flyover project worth Rs1.4 billion to be constructed at the junction of GT Road and Islamabad Expressway. Habib Construction Service (HCS), which had built the multibillions Jinnah Square Project (Serena Interchange and Murree Road underpass), is all set to get the work orders as its bids were stated to be lowest. Only two bidders were in race.

HCS and its joint venture partner ZKB submitted two per cent lower rate than the estimated cost of Rs1.4 billion for the project. The other bidder submitted over 11pc high bid than the NIT cost.

“Today, bids have been opened, the JV of HCS and ZKB submitted lowest bid, which is 2pc below the NIT cost. Now, the bid will be placed before the competent authority for approval before issuing the work orders,” said an official.

He said that under the project a 570 metre-long flyover will be constructed on GT Road to provide direct access to traffic coming from Lahore side to the Expressway.

Bid will be placed before competent authority for approval before issuing work orders, says official

Traffic moving towards Lahore from the Expressway will get direct access through a slip road, the official said and added that as per PC-1 the project was to be completed in five months. But if work is carried out in a fast pace, it could be completed within three months.

When contacted, Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza said that T-Chowk project was imperative for smooth flow of traffic.

He said that once completed the project will provide relief to around 100,000 motorists daily.

“On the direction of Interior Minister and Chairman CDA, engineering wing of CDA had already completed two mega projects and this project will also be completed on priority,” he said and added that without the flyover project, people could not get maximum benefit of the signal-free Expressway.

“We conducted proper study before launching this project and we noticed large number of motorists face problems at this junction, particularly those coming from Lahore side,” he said.

Sources said that next week financial bids of another mega project, Shaheen Chowk, for construction of an underpass at the junction of Ninth Avenue and Khayaban-i-Iqbal/Margalla Road will be opened. The estimated cost of this project is Rs1.3 billion. Currently, the Shaheen Chowk junction faces major congestion during peak hours because there are several government offices and educational institutions in the area.

Under the project, an underpass will be built at Khayaban-i-Iqbal and traffic on this road will pass through the underpass while its top slab will be used to connect 9th Avenue with the service road.

Last month, the CDA had rejected a lone bidder for Shaheen Chowk project and called the tenders afresh. The CDA had also faced controversy and allegations of favouritism with tailored-made criteria for the project, as only one bidder participated in the bidding process. However, the CDA rejected the bid and decided to call bids anew by relaxing the criteria.

Meanwhile, sources said CDA was also planning to start another project - extension of Margalla Road from GT Road to Motorway I.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2025