Rs21.814b signal-free Islamabad Highway corridor

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s Development Working Party (CDADWP), during its 36th meeting, has okayed ‘Project Cost-1s’ (PC-1) of four mega projects worth Rs34 billion.
The meeting was presided0-over by the CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal, while, members of the CDA Board, senior officers of Planning and Development Division, Cabinet Division and senior officers of the authority including Director General Works, Director Planning and Evaluation were also present on the occasion.
PC-1 worth Rs 21.814 billion was approved for the ‘signal free / controlled access corridor of Islamabad Highway from Zero Point Interchange to GT Road”. Under the project, five lanes each would be constructed on both sides of Islamabad Highway from Zero Point to Rawat. Two major interchanges, underpasses and T-Junction would also be constructed on 24 kilo meter long Islamabad Highway. While service roads on both sides of Islamabad Highway would also be expanded. Islamabad Highway being inter provincial route facility is of great importance, which facilitates the traffic flow from Punjab and other parts of the country. Due to expansion of Islamabad Highway not only the commuters from other parts of the country would be facilitated but the people residing in the areas along the Islamabad Highway would also be benefited.
During the meeting PC-1 amounting to Rs3495.354 million for the development of Sector C14 and PC-1 worth Rs.4548.627 million for the development of Sector C15 were also approved to cater the growing housing needs in the federal capital. Development of these sectors would not only help meet housing needs but will also open new avenues of development in the capital.
During the 36th meeting of CDADWP, PC-1 for the long awaited project of Kuri Model Village was also approved, which would cost Rs.4074.972 million. The development of Kuri Model Village would not only help in acquisition of thousand acres of land but also help resolve other longstanding issues.
Maroof Afzal said that the development of signal free/controlled access corridor of Islamabad Highway would help ease traffic burden in Islamabad. He said that no new sector has been launched for the last many years, which has not only created the shortage of housing units but also escalated the prices of real estate in Islamabad.