Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Mayor of Islamabad and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) has directed the concerned formations to prepare a PC-I to widen the Kashmir Highway from 7th avenue to Murree Road whereas, a revised PC-I of an interchange at the intersection of 7th avenue would also be prepared, which was stalled due to some security reasons last year.

Currently, there are four lane tracks available on Kashmir Highway from G-13 to Zero Point, however only a two lane road exists from Zero Point to Murree Road, which creates trouble for routine commuters in peak hours.

On the directions of the Mayor Islamabad Shaikh Ansar Aziz, the concerned formations have started work to prepare a PC-I to widen the Kashmir Highway, which includes the construction of 3rd and 4thlane from 7th avenue to Murree Road and an interchange at the intersection of 6th avenue right in front of Serena Hotel.

“The preparation of PC-I would take around one month to be in its final shape however I have conveyed this decision to roads directorate north for further pursuance”, Director Traffic Engineering CDA told Daily Times. The length of the proposed project will be around 5.25 kilometres as we have already four lanes available almost till the 7th avenue so the new lanes will be built from 7th avenue.

Besides the narrowness of Kashmir Highway at the aforementioned area, the traffic signal at the intersection of Kashmir Highway and 7thavenue is also a big hurdle in the smooth flow of traffic on the main highway.

A PC-I to construct an interchange on the said point was submitted for approval in the Planning Commission last year, which was referred back to the civic body as an intelligence agency had showed some reservations on the project.

The head office of the said intelligence agency is situated quite close where the interchange was proposed by the CDA, so they were some security concerns with the project.

The planning commission had asked the CDA to first sit with stake holders and resolve the problem by addressing their reservations. Following the directions of the Planning Commission, the city managers met with the officers of the intelligence agency whereas the higher-ups of the said agency also visited the site of the proposed interchange.

Sources informed Daily Times that the intelligence agency asked the civic authority to incorporate its suggestions regarding the project in the PC-I to resolve the security and access issues of its head office, which was accepted by the CDA.

“The civic body has recently received a verbal go ahead for the project from the said intelligence agency, but a written approval in this regard is still needed”, they added.

Another officer of the authority commented on the condition of anonymity: “After the resolution of conflict on the project’s design with the intelligence agency, a revised PC-I would be required based on redesigning and recasting of the project, which would again be presented before the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission for its final approval.”

When questioned the Director Roads Directorate (North) Waqas Farid said: “We are in contact with all stake holders including the intelligence agency and hopefully soon the project would be executed as it is quite necessary for the flow of traffic on Kashmir Highway.”