10-lane Islamabad Highway: CDA invites bids from construction firms

[Salman]

10-lane Islamabad Highway: CDA invites bids from construction firms

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the prequalification process of construction firms in connection with a project to upgrade Islamabad Highway to 10 lanes from Zero Point to Karal Chowk, and has invited bids from five prequalified firms until May 20.
Construction work will be started after the bidding process is completed. Technical and financial bids have been invited separately because the design has to be evolved by the company. Technical bids will be opened first.
Sources said that in the first phase, this 12 kilometre project will be completed within a year at the cost ranging between Rs 9 billion to Rs 10 billion. In the second phase high way will be upgraded to 10 lanes from Karal Chowk to Rawat.
As many as seven firms had applied for this mega project but the CDA consultant consortium had shortlisted five firms.
At present, a six-lane highway is lying from Zero Point to Faizabad flyover, which will be upgraded to 10 lanes. An interchange will be built at I-8 Chowk and new loop will be built at Faizabad flyover. Overpass will be raised at Sohan and an interchange will be erected at Kurri. An interchange will also be built at Khanna Pul and an underpass will be built between Khanna Pul and Karal Chowk. The service road on both sides of the expressway will be upgraded to four lanes. Modern bus routes will be built therein. Bridges will be built for pedestrians to cross the highway, while an administration block will be built to monitor the vehicular traffic through CCTV cameras.
The firm to be awarded work will work out the design within two months and construction work will be completed within nine months. The PC-1 of this project has been approved.