The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has introduced major design changes to the ongoing Shaheen Chowk underpass project, expanding its size and traffic capacity while construction continues.
The project sits at the busy intersection of 9th Avenue and Khyaban-i-Iqbal, where daily congestion has long troubled motorists. Officials said the authority increased the length of the underpass barrel from 56 meters to 85 meters to allow smoother vehicular flow.
They also added an extra lane to the roundabout and incorporated two new U-turns to give motorists quicker access from multiple directions. A CDA official said the amendments fall within the permissible 15 percent cost-revision limit set by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.
He added that any further additions, such as minor road adjustments or service-road improvements, would be handled through separate small tenders to ensure the project remains compliant.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Rs. 1.3 billion project on October 24. Although the original PC-I sets April as the completion timeline, officials said rapid construction progress has put the project ahead of schedule.
The CDA stated that the revised design will significantly improve traffic movement once the underpass opens to the public.
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