ISLAMABAD: Mayor of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Sheikh Anser Aziz has directed the authorities concerned to partially open the Sohan Interchange for the traffic from January 01, 2018 to facilitate the commuters of twin cities on Islamabad Expressway. The mayor issued these directions while reviewing progress about the ongoing development work on Sohan interchange on Saturday. Aziz said that Islamabad Expressway Signal Free Corridor was one of the most important projects of the federal capital, adding that the development work remained slow because of the Faizabad sit-in and VVIP traffic movements. He instructed the department concerned to work round the clock in three shifts and deploy additional manpower and heavy machinery to complete the work in the stipulated time. The mayor also visited the Khanna interchange and inspected the ongoing development activities. He directed director general E&M to ensure installation of electric poles. He also directed the environment wing for landscaping work and tree plantation on both sides of the interchange and complete the work before the completion of the work. He directed the department concerned to construct concrete fence and new jerry barriers around the graveyards to stop illegal expansion. He instructed to establish a park like Katchnar Park and beautiful landscaping so that the people from adjoining areas could participate in healthy activities in the park. He said that as the work on Koral interchange had already completed, the completion of both the interchanges will turn the busiest part of the Islamabad Expressway into signal-free corridor for the public. Aziz said that being part of the Islamabad Expressway Signal Free Corridor, a comprehensive plan has been chalked out to commence development work from Koral Interchange to Rawat in the next phase. He said that signal free corridor was the best facility for the people coming from other parts of the country as well as for the people from adjoining areas of the federal capital. On this occasion, the mayor was briefed in detail by Project Director Mumtaz Hussain about the ongoing development works. He apprised the mayor that the estimated cost on both the interchanges was Rs 2 billion. He was informed that three lanes each carriageway flyover bridge had been constructed on the Sohan interchange with two loops, two link roads and 10 culverts. The construction of Service Road (East) and Service Road (West) along the interchange was also part of the project. He was informed that work on installation of electric poles on the interchange was in progress. The project director said that a flyover bridge with six-lane carriageway bridge was under construction and girds required for the bridge were already completed for the Khanna interchange. Published in Daily Times, December 17th 2017.