ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to hire a consultant for the 10th Avenue project as technical bids of consultants will be opened on Wednesday (today).
The nine-km-long avenue will start from I.J. Principal Road near Khayaban stop and culminate at the junction of Khyaban-i-Iqbal (commonly known as Margalla Road).
A CDA official said technical bids will be opened on Wednesday and after a few weeks financial bids will also be opened to award the contract to a consultant for carrying out feasibility study, design and PC-I. The consultant will complete the job within six months.
The project will be executed through funds to be provided by the federal government which has already earmarked Rs1 billion for it under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in 2020-21.
The official said once constructed the avenue will not only help reduce traffic load on I.J.P. Road and Ninth Avenue but will also provide an alternative route to residents of I-10, I-11 and those living in adjoining areas of Rawalpindi to reach Islamabad.
According to the Islamabad master plan, the city is supposed to have a major road after every sector to divide it with the next one like 7th Avenue, which divides G6 and G-7.
Currently, the city has only few major avenues that include 7th, 8th (also known as Faisal Avenue) and 9th Avenue. However, after a long hiatus, now the CDA is going to start at least feasibility of the 10th Avenue.
Officials of the civic agency said the CDA was making serious efforts to start the project.
“We are cognizant of the importance of this avenue, once feasibility and design and PC-1 is completed by the consultant we will get the PC-I approved immediately to start the work,” said an engineer of the CDA.
He said the CDA would make every effort to start the project before completion of the ongoing financial year.
He said the project was a mega one and its construction would take several years and in next few years the government would have to earmark funds in the annual PSDP regularly.
During the PML-Q tenure, especially when Kamran Lashari was the CDA chairman, Islamabad saw major road projects as Zero Point Interchange, 7th Avenue, 8th Avenue (widening) and 9th Avenue were constructed.
Later, the PML-N government focused only widening of Islamabad Expressway from Zero Point to Koral with the construction of four interchanges. Since then, no major road project was launched.
However, the incumbent government launched work on the G-7, G-8 interchange, Embassy Road expansion, Rawal Dam Interchange and on Korang Bridge and PWD underpass.
Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2020
