Islamabad: CDA to launch five mega projects

[Naveed Yaseen]

Muhammad Anis
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) would be taking five mega development projects in the next one and a half months for maximum utilisation of development funds allocated for financial year 2008-2009.

The budget document says the authority had earmarked Rs2 billion for these development projects including Zero Point Interchange, rehabilitation and expansion of Kashmir Highway, expansion of Garden Avenue and expansion and rehabilitation of Lehtrar Road.

CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari said the development activity for the current fiscal year would start with the groundbreaking of much-awaited project of Zero Point Interchange by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the next four days. The project would cost little over Rs2.35 billion whereas Rs600 million have been allocated for ongoing financial year.

The project would take two years to complete and it would be big challenge for the civic body to accomplish the task in time and ensure a proper alternate traffic plan during construction period.

The project of expansion and rehabilitation of Kashmir Highway costing over Rs2.5 billion would be next on the development programme. The CDA has allocated Rs800 million for this project in the budget 2008-2009. The government had promised to share 50% of the cost of this project but no allocations have been made in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The project would envisage expansion of Kashmir Highway up to five lanes on both sides. Two lanes on both sides would be rigid lanes.

The project has been re-designed in a way that rigid lanes are separated from carpeted lanes allowing smooth flow of heavy and light traffic.

The expansion of Garden Avenue, which serves most of already existed and upcoming tourist spots in Islamabad, would require additional lane. An amount of Rs300 million has been allocated for this work.

Lashari said the tenders for construction of 11th Avenue would also be called by end of this month. However, only Rs100 million have been earmarked for initial work of the project to be carried during this year. The CDA is also working on design of 10th Avenue but it would be taken up during the next fiscal year.

The CDA chairman said the construction firm is also all set to start work on expansion of Lehtrar Road from Taramari Chowk to PINSTECH with an allocation of Rs40 million.

The work on Islamabad Highway is already in progress for which Rs500 million have been spared.

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