To upgrade and uplift the infrastructure of the IJ Principal Road - which connects Islamabad with Rawalpindi, two additional rigid lanes, an additional box culvert and three flyovers have been proposed.
This was proposed as a consultant hired for the purpose gave a presentation on its proposed Rs5.32 billion changes to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Aamer Ali Ahmed, the authority said on Thursday.
CDA said that the uplift of the IJ Principal Road was part of a comprehensive strategy to upgrade the infrastructure in Islamabad. The project concept-II (PC-II) for IJ Principal Road had been approved by CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) in December 2019. Four consulting firms had responded to the tender including NESPAK, EA Associates, ACC Consultants and Zeerak International, submitting technical as well as financial proposals.
The authority had subsequently hired Zeerak International on April 20 to prepare a rehabilitation and uplift plan for the thoroughfare.
After completing its feasibility study, the consultant presented its first set of designs and estimates. During the presentation, the consultant suggested constructing two additional rigid lanes on both sides of IJ Principal Road. With as many as seven box culverts already existing on the road, they will be extended while a new box culvert will be constructed. Similarly, three flyovers will also be built, including one each on Ninth Avenue, Tenth Avenue and Eleventh Avenue.
Other aspects of the project include the rehabilitation of the existing dual carriageway along with proper lane markings.
The tentative cost of the project is estimated by the consultant as Rs5.322 billion.
The IJ Principal Road connects not only Islamabad with Rawalpindi but also serves as a major artery for the heavy transport coming from Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to Taxila, Attock and onwards to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It has been languishing in poor condition for over a decade because it was not originally designed to cater to heavy traffic. However, the load on it increased after the Peshawar Road was closed for trucks and other goods-carrying vehicles in the wake of security concerns in 2008. The rehabilitation of IJP road will facilitate inter-provincial traffic and the traffic from Rawalpindi to Islamabad and vice versa.
Faisal Avenue underpass
The newly-constructed underpass between Sectors G-7 and G-8 at Faisal Avenue will be formally inaugurated for traffic today (Friday).
With the opening of the underpass, the Islamabad Expressway and Faisal Avenue will become signal-free from Koral Chowk up to Margalla Road which will facilitate thousands of commuters daily.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2020.
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