ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced another extension of the deadline, setting it for October 30, for the completion of a significant road project that aims to connect the newly constructed Margalla Avenue with E-11.
Despite previous delays, CDA officials express optimism about achieving the project’s completion by the revised date.
Initiated in December 2022, the 5.5km road project, with an estimated value of approximately Rs. 4 billion, was initially slated to conclude by June 20 of the current year.
However, officials from the engineering wing deemed the six-month timeline outlined in the project’s plan impractical for such a complex endeavor. Consequently, the deadline was extended to August 15.
According to CDA officials, multiple challenges, including the relocation of utility services, tree management, land possession issues, and adverse weather conditions, contributed to the delays.
They affirmed that these hurdles have now been overcome, allowing the project to progress at full throttle, adding that the project will successfully be finalized by October 30.
According to sources, the project was contracted to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) last year for Rs3,983 million.
The road, spanning 5.5km, stretches from sector D-12, where Margalla Avenue terminates and extends to Khayaban-i-Iqbal in E-11.
As motorists have embraced the convenience of the 10km Margalla Avenue stretch from G.T. Road to D-12, CDA recognized the need for further connectivity.
The initiated portion of the road’s extension towards E-11 and Khayaban-i-Iqbal aims to address potential traffic congestion.
Moreover, CDA has also unveiled plans to link the project with the construction of 11th Avenue, although the latter’s construction has not yet commenced since its foundation stone was laid by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Besides, reflecting on the project’s progress, a CDA official noted that deadline extensions are common in major projects and are often used as a motivational tool to hasten construction.
With the project nearing completion, CDA remains positive that the road will be accessible to traffic by the end of October.
Source: DAWN
