ISALAMBAD: The dilapidated condition of the service road along Karnal Sher Khan Avenue (formerly IJP road) is causing problems for motorists.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) last year completed the widening and overhauling of the avenue after spending over Rs5 billion on it. However, work on the service road was not started which is currently in a shambles.

“This road needs immediate overhauling as it is important road which provides easy access to residents of I-9, 1-10 and I-11,” said Qaiser Khan, a resident of I-9.

He said that once the road was overhauled, traffic load will also be reduced from Karanl Sher Khan Avenue.

Reconstruction of Karnal Sher Khan Avenue completed last year but repair of service road yet to start, say commuters

Meanwhile, an engineer of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said the authority was cognizant of the issue and some months ago tenders for the project had been floated. He said that soon the CDA will get work started on the project.

“We have already floated tenders for the project which had been accepted and soon we will launch the project,” said an officer of the CDA, adding because of weak financial position in the CDA the project saw some delay.

“Our auction of commercial plots is planned for January so we are hopeful to fetch funds to pay full focus on completion of ongoing development works besides carrying out essential work on roads like this service road,” he said.

Meanwhile, service road of Islamabad Expressway towards Sohan and Pindorian side is also in dilapidated condition, causing great difficulty for thousands of people residing in Sohan, Mohammadi Town, Pindorian, Iqbal Town, Khanna Pul and Ghauri Town.

For the financial year 2020-21, the CDA had earmarked Rs500 million for rehabilitation of the road and called tenders, but all of a sudden the process was stopped.

The road is divided into two parts: the first part extends from Faizabad to Pindorian where it meets a dead-end due to the elevated expressway link with a petrol station and the second part begins at Pindorian and ends at Koral.

In Pindorian, motorists are seen using wrong sides of the busy expressway which puts the lives of commuters at risk.

“We have been demanding the CDA for years to repair this service road, but in vein,” said a resident of Pindorian, Shahid Hussain.

However, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials said they will complete overhauling of the road after completion of ongoing widening of the Islamabad Expressway.

“Currently, we are focusing on the completion of the ongoing major widening work on the expressway. Once it is completed, we will focus on the service road,” said an officer of the CDA.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024