Ataturk Avenue: Concerns voiced over road-widening project
Despite reservations, the capital authorities on Monday initiated developmental work on the widening of Ataturk Avenue
Despite reservations, the capital authorities on Monday initiated developmental work on the widening of Ataturk Avenue. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Despite reservations expressed by the environmentalists, the capital authorities on Monday initiated developmental work on the widening of Ataturk Avenue.
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz performed the groundbreaking of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the CDA chairman said that all ongoing development projects were being completed within the stipulated time, while more mega projects would also be initiated in the future.
“Due to increasing traffic volume, IMC and CDA decided to dualise Ataturk Avenue to ensure smooth flow of the traffic,” he said, adding that the project will be completed within one year.
The chairman was told that initially the estimated cost of the project was Rs518 million, however, it will now be completed at a cost of Rs235 million. Ataturk Avenue would be widened starting from Khayaban-e-Suhurwardhy to Khayaban-e-Margalla.
Environmental activists, however, have opposed the idea of widening roads to avoid traffic jams and termed CDA’s mismanagement as the reason behind the traffic woes.
“City’s administrators and civic authorities must think of better ways to handle the growing traffic problems instead of widening roads and cutting trees and nibbling greenbelts,” Green Force member Dr Duska Sayid told The Express Tribune.
Serena Chowk and Rawal Chowk are the two main hotspots for traffic jams during peak hours, she said, adding that underpasses or slipways should be constructed at these points instead. Sayid also suggested turning Embassy road and Service Road East into one-way routes.
The activist said that due to barricades placed by the administration on Service Road East, the traffic was diverted onto the Embassy road. These barricades should be removed instead of widening the road, she demanded.
“The main objective of the proposed project is to enhance existing infrastructural facilities in line with the city’s master and provide quick access to the federal government ministries and organisations located in Sector F-5 and G-5,” CDA Public Relations Department Director Mazhar Hussain told The Express Tribune.
According to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, the road would be converted into a 33-feet-wide dual carriageway. It will add two lanes and shoulders to the existing road, causing the greenbelt of Ataturk to be shortened by at least 33 feet. As per the CDA’s approved PC-1, the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs571 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2017.
Despite reservations expressed by the environmentalists, the capital authorities on Monday initiated developmental work on the widening of Ataturk Avenue.
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz performed the groundbreaking of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the CDA chairman said that all ongoing development projects were being completed within the stipulated time, while more mega projects would also be initiated in the future.
“Due to increasing traffic volume, IMC and CDA decided to dualise Ataturk Avenue to ensure smooth flow of the traffic,” he said, adding that the project will be completed within one year.
The chairman was told that initially the estimated cost of the project was Rs518 million, however, it will now be completed at a cost of Rs235 million. Ataturk Avenue would be widened starting from Khayaban-e-Suhurwardhy to Khayaban-e-Margalla.
Environmental activists, however, have opposed the idea of widening roads to avoid traffic jams and termed CDA’s mismanagement as the reason behind the traffic woes.
“City’s administrators and civic authorities must think of better ways to handle the growing traffic problems instead of widening roads and cutting trees and nibbling greenbelts,” Green Force member Dr Duska Sayid told The Express Tribune.
Serena Chowk and Rawal Chowk are the two main hotspots for traffic jams during peak hours, she said, adding that underpasses or slipways should be constructed at these points instead. Sayid also suggested turning Embassy road and Service Road East into one-way routes.
The activist said that due to barricades placed by the administration on Service Road East, the traffic was diverted onto the Embassy road. These barricades should be removed instead of widening the road, she demanded.
“The main objective of the proposed project is to enhance existing infrastructural facilities in line with the city’s master and provide quick access to the federal government ministries and organisations located in Sector F-5 and G-5,” CDA Public Relations Department Director Mazhar Hussain told The Express Tribune.
According to an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report, the road would be converted into a 33-feet-wide dual carriageway. It will add two lanes and shoulders to the existing road, causing the greenbelt of Ataturk to be shortened by at least 33 feet. As per the CDA’s approved PC-1, the total cost of the project is estimated at Rs571 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2017.