After the successful inauguration of the Shaheen Chowk, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved plans to build another underpass in Islamabad, this time at Kashmir Chowk, in a bid to tackle one of the capital’s most persistent traffic bottlenecks.
The decision was taken during a special meeting at CDA Headquarters, chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Officials briefed the meeting on various public welfare schemes, after which it was agreed to construct a “Smart Underpass” at Kashmir Chowk to ensure smoother traffic flow on key connecting routes.
CDA has been instructed to submit the final design of the underpass within 10 days, so that work on the project can be fast-tracked.
The session also cleared several other initiatives for Islamabad, including a state-of-the-art cricket stadium, with its final design also due within 10 days. And also the expansion of the Safe City Project to cover more areas with modern surveillance.
The meeting also saw a discussion to hire renowned international companies to build a five-star hotel, for which details of long-vacant commercial plots have been sought.
Allocation of land for a National Park and for the headquarters of law enforcement agencies, as well as plans to hire a solid waste management company.
Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that anti-encroachment operations will continue, and any recovered land will be used for public projects. Proposals for a new convention center in the federal capital were also discussed.
CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa gave the briefing, while the meeting was attended by IG Islamabad Police Ali Nasir Rizvi, the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner General, CTO, SSP Operations, CDA members, and other senior officials.