PC1 approved for signal-free highway from Rawat to Zero Point

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: CDA has approved PC1 for the construction of signal free highway from Zero Point to Rawat.
PC1 has been approved at the cost of Rs 24 billion. Under this project a 10-lane 25 kilometer long highway will be constructed from zero point interchange to Rawat. The project will be completed within two and a half year. Noman Sheikh has been appointed as project director for the accomplishment of this work.
CDA will complete this project under self-finance scheme. Service roads will be built on both sides from zero point to Rawat. Interchanges will be constructed on 8 points including I-8 Chowk, Sohan, Khanna ;Pull, Karal Chowk, PWD Scheme, Sihala Mor and GT Road crossing. A new loop will be included in existing Faizabad fly-over so that vehicular traffic flow from Murree Road could be provided access to IJ Principal Road, which is not available at the present. Underpasses will be constructed at two points to connect service roads. One underpass will be constructed in-between Lehtrar Chowk and Karal chowk and second underpass will be built between PWD and Karal chowk. This highway has been designed to meet the needs of next 20 years. With the construction of this highway, the distance between Rawat to Zero Point will be covered within almost 25 minutes.
CDA will invite tenders from construction companies on the basis of design cum construction formula.
Meanwhile traders of the federal capital on Thursday urged Capital Development Authority (CDA) to focus on development of markets to facilitate business activities.
The newly elected office bearers of Traders Welfare Association, F-10 Markaz, Islamabad visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its President Ch Amanullah Cheema and highlighted various issues being faced by the traders of the area.
Speaking at the occasion, Islamabad Traders Welfare Association, F-10 Markaz, President, Ch Amanullah Cheema, said that F-10 commercial centre was facing many problems but CDA was paying no attention to address the issues. He said condition of roads, footpaths and other infrastructure in the area was in bad shape and called upon the civic body to focus on better development of markets to facilitate growth of business activities. He said CDA should allocate a plot for construction of union office so that effective efforts could be made for traders’ welfare.
He said ICCI should organize a family gala in Islamabad that will help in promoting business activities. He assured that F-10 market union would provide its full cooperation to ICCI in its efforts aimed at resolving issues of business community.
In his welcome address, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, President, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, congratulated the newly elected office bearers of F10 Markaz and said that ICCI was in constant touch with the CDA for resolving key issues of trade and industry. He stressed that traders should develop strong unity because unity was the best approach to get issues resolved and protect their rights. He assured that ICCI will take up highlighted issues of F-10 Markaz with local administration, police, CDA and other relevant departments.
ICCI Founder Group Chairman Abdul Rauf Alam said business community is a key stakeholder in Islamabad and is playing an important role in the economic development; therefore, CDA should take trade bodies on board on all-important decisions and give top priority to addressing their issues.
ICCI Senior Vice President M Shakeel Munir, Vice President M Ashfaq Chatha, F10 Markaz Group Leader Tahir Abbasi, Patron-in-Chief Akbar Siddique, General Secretary Atif Jamil Butt, Senior Vice Chairman Ahmed Khan, FPCCI former president Zubair Ahmed Malik and Traders Leader Ajmal Baloch also spoke at the occasion. ICCI former presidents Mirza Inayatullah Mirza, Zahid Maqbool, Zafar Bakhtawari and representatives of various markets were present at the occasion.