CDA plans to dig up remaining roads of Islamabad

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: While still trying to cope with the confusion created by the traffic mess after the main arteries of the city were blocked due to work on the metro bus service, the residents of the capital could face a worse situation as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to initiate more development work in the city.

Sources in the civic body told Dawn that key infrastructure development projects would be launched from July; however, this would further reduce space for traffic movement in the city.

Apart from smaller repair and maintenance work on roads, sewers and water lines, key road projects are planned to be initiated from the beginning of the coming fiscal year including construction of an underpass at Faisal Avenue and an interchange on 7th Avenue before Aabpara. Despite numerous residents voicing their displeasure at the traffic chaos caused by the metro bus construction, the authorities are convinced that traffic trouble faced by the citizens due to these new projects would be mitigated through alternative plans.

“I came to Islamabad from Karachi, nine years ago to live in a city with natural beauty. Now they are replacing grass and trees with concrete and tar,” said Ammara Durrani, who works for a non-government organisation (NGO).“Even if the project was inevitable, Islamabad’s administration should have at least made a traffic plan to reduce this confusion,” Durrani added.

Due to massive digging right from Sector I-8, I.J. Principal Road and all the way to Pak-Secretariat, the level of dust in the air has increased and the rains have made the streets and roads muddy.

Meanwhile, the senior management of the civic body is convinced that the metro bus project, coupled with improvements in local road networks, will resolve traffic issues of Islamabad for many years to come.

CDA spokesman Asim Khichi surprisingly expressed ignorance over the future plans; however, he said that the development projects will provide long-term benefits for residents and visitors of the city.

Sources in the CDA said the civic body had earmarked Rs400 million for an underpass to connect sector G-7 and G-8 to avoid disturbance for traffic at Faisal Avenue. In 2008, this project was estimated for Rs500 million.

The CDA Board has also approved the construction of an interchange at the junction of 7th Avenue and Kashmir Highway. The project, however, had certain objections from security agencies as the bridge of the project will provide a clear vantage of some sensitive establishments.

The civic body has estimated the cost of the interchange at around Rs1 billion. This project was also originally estimated at Rs2.5 billion.

“There has been a major change in the design, which has reduced the cost,” said an official of CDA engineering wing, adding, “we have already planned to make alternative traffic routes to avoid disturbances”.

As the major arteries are closed for metro bus construction, the CDA has also set its eyes to build an additional bridge on the intersection of Faisal Avenue and Jinnah Avenue to allow a smooth flow of traffic. This bridge will be constructed for another Rs500 million.

The authorities are eager to implement these projects because of a slight improvement in their financial standing.

“Besides, it is expected that any shortfall would be compensated by the federal government to ensure timely completion of these projects,” said an official of the planning wing.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2014