Islamabad: Faisal Avenue underpass opened for traffic at last

[Naveed Yaseen]

by Muhammad Anis
The Faisal Avenue underpass at Citibank Chowk was opened for traffic on Tuesday meeting the deadline of September 30 given by CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari.

The traffic started using the 1050-meter long underpass on late Tuesday evening following carpeting of three-lane road on both of its side.

Kamran Lashari also visited the site Monday midnight to monitor the progress of work on the project. “I reached the site at 12.30 a.m and I was told by engineers that they have just stopped the machinery and it will be mobilized next early morning,” Lashari told ‘The News’.

A CDA official said they had completed the carpeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, but the traffic was allowed to move late evening to avoid rutting on fresh layer of the road. The official said another fine layer would also be done after Eid holidays, but the traffic has been allowed to use the underpass He said the lane-marking would be done after completing the final layer while signals at Shahbaz Chowk, which the traffic negotiate after crossing the underpass would also be made operational after Eid.

A representative of construction firm M/s Matracon told ‘The News’, they have fulfilled the commitment to open the underpass by September 30. “It was holiday today for our workers, but they worked overtime to accomplish the task,” he said.

The contractor’s representative said now they are relieving the labourers for Eid holidays after paying them overtime dues. “We have to bear extra expenses of Rs6 million to meet the deadline,” he said.

It may be pointed out here that soon after his arrival from the United States, CDA chairman visited the project and directed the concerned official to ensure opening of underpass before Eid day.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=138955