In a significant development, the Bhara Kahu bypass in Pakistan is set to open in the upcoming week. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the project, as revealed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The inauguration board has already been placed in anticipation of the event.
The project, worth Rs6.5 billion, has been undertaken by the National Logistics Cell (NLC) and is nearly complete, with the exception of the landing area of the flyover towards Murree. Due to persistent rainfall, the finalization of the flyover ramps has faced delays.
However, officials are striving to overcome these obstacles to meet the July 31 deadline.
Insiders within the CDA stated that two dates, July 26 and July 31, are being considered for the opening ceremony. Notably, the horticulture work accompanying the road construction is also nearing completion.
Noorul Amin Mengal, the Chairman of CDA, recently toured the project site and directed the engineering team to expedite the project’s completion.
The project, which began on October 1 following the Prime Minister’s directive, aimed for a speedy completion within a four-month timeline.
Although this ambitious timeframe posed substantial challenges for such a large project, the work was carried out meticulously and with care, especially after the project faced two consecutive incidents in February. A transom collapse, leading to the tragic death of two workers, and the overturning of the fifth girder necessitated extra caution.
Despite these setbacks, the project was aggressively pursued over the past two months to achieve the July 31 target.
The Prime Minister has been closely monitoring the project, with several progress meetings taking place at the PM Office.
The completion of the Bhara Kahu bypass will greatly benefit residents of Murree, Kashmir, Galyat and the numerous tourists who visit these regions, particularly during the summer.
The current Bhara Kahu/Murree Road is notorious for its frequent traffic jams, making travel challenging for commuters. However, the new bypass promises to alleviate traffic congestion, providing a smoother alternative route for vehicles traveling to and from Murree-Kashmir.
CDA member engineering Syed Munawar Shah confirmed to Dawn News that the project is on the verge of completion.
He commented on the current obstacles: “Only work on ramps is pending, and we are making all our efforts to complete it within a few days. Actually, constant rain is causing difficulty; otherwise, we can complete it within a few days.”
