On Monday, the Capital Development Authority Development Working Party (CDA-DWP) met under the chairmanship of Noorul Amin Mengal to discuss and approve several development projects in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by CDA officers and representatives from the Planning Commission.
As one of the approved projects, Srinagar Highway will be expanded from 7th Avenue Interchange to Serena Chowk, with an underpass being constructed near Serena Chowk to ease traffic congestion. There will also be cycle tracks installed on both sides of the road as part of the project. A feasibility report and design for the expansion will be prepared by a consultant, and the project has been allocated a budget of Rs 8.5 million. The consultant is expected to complete the work within two months.
In addition, a project to widen Jinnah Avenue in sections G-9 and F-9 was approved during the meeting. Approximately Rs482.6 million has been allocated for the project, which involves expanding the road and adding two additional lanes in addition to a cyclist track. Within six months, the project is expected to be completed.
A consultancy service was also approved by the CDA-DWP for the feasibility and engineering design of the National Bus Terminal in sector I-11. The terminal will be for a public bus service, and the consultant will conduct a study to connect it with the existing metro buses network. The project has been allocated a budget of Rs 10 million, and the consultant is expected to complete the work within two months.
Additionally, a PC-I worth Rs 52 million was approved for the provision of security gates at various locations within the Red Zone. However, two other agenda items, a mega project related to development and infrastructure facilities in rural areas of Islamabad and the development of Chatta Bakhtawar project, were deferred for further input from the federal government.
While the CDA’s engineering wing has mainly been focused on urban areas, a two-year project was planned to carry out multi-billion dollar development projects in rural areas. However, the meeting decided to defer the project and seek input from the federal government before resuming the project. In the past, the PTI government had undertaken development projects in rural areas such as the construction of Malal and Kayani bridges.
