ISLAMABAD: Due to a sluggish pace of work on Margalla Avenue and its flawed design, the newly constructed highway which links multiple sectors of the federal capital with G.T. Road in Sangjani has become vulnerable to accidents.

The two-lane road in the foothills of Margalla Hills was constructed with the idea to cater to the load of heavy traffic as a bypass, but it has been problematic for vehicles since day one. A big portion of the fast-moving track has been closed, compelling the two-way traffic to ply on a single lane without any proper divider, which may cause fatal accidents.

Similarly, U-turns on the fast track also pose dangers to the speedy traffic. In addition, the road is frequently used by wildlife and pedestrians for crossings and the absence of a fence on either side of the highway adds to this problem. The fence was a part of this project but so far the authorities have failed to erect it.

After opening the road to vehicular traffic, the prime responsibility of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) was to build a fence on both sides of the road. In case this was not feasible, the civic agency was supposed to be erected on the hillside to prevent the wildlife from crossing the road as well as stop the growth of ill-planned settlements, which may mushroom. For instance, the operators of the housing societies in Zone III, which were declared illegal by the civic body, are also making attempts to get direct access from Margalla Road to boost their business.

A CDA official feared the civic agency might not be able to rein in construction in the area because many influential people had made investments. When contacted, a senior official of the Islamabad police, who did not want to be named, told Dawn that the road has become quite dangerous for commuters due to its constant repair work and closure of one side. He said the traffic police authorities have been asking the CDA to expedite the repair work on the road but to no avail.

The official said the closure of one side of the road made the police job challenging to avert accidents. He said the CDA has also been reminded to fix the fence on both sides of the road to prevent wildlife from coming onto the road leading to accidents. When contacted, a source in the CDA said the repair work was underway and it would be completed by next month.

The source said the construction firm had not formally handed over the project to the CDA and was executing the repair work under the same contract and cost of the project. He said the plan to erect a fence on the hillside of the road was also underway. There will be no fence on the southern side of the road.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023