Park Road expansion project misses deadline

Slow work pace leads to severe traffic congestion during peak hours

ISLAMABAD:

The Park Road expansion project which has already experienced significant delays failed to meet its final deadline of July 12 set by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa.

This delay has caused severe difficulties for the more than 0.2 million residents in the surrounding areas.

Residents who use Park Road daily expressed their frustration, noting that the project was originally scheduled for completion in December of last year. Due to the ongoing delays, they are now forced to endure severe problems daily.

Traffic jams have become the norm, with traffic police completely absent, leading to miles-long queues of vehicles, they said. “Traffic from three lanes narrows to one after reaching Park Rood, and no traffic officials are present to manage the congestion.”

Residents of Shahzad Town, Taramri, Alipur, Lehtrar Road, and other nearby areas are particularly affected. Muhammad Sagheer, Aziz Ahmed, Mokhtar Ali, and others noted that the CDA chairman had ordered the completion of the project and its opening to the public by July 12.

However, this deadline has also passed, adding to the project's already six-month delay. The situation has been exacerbated by the negligence and carelessness of traffic police authorities, who have failed to address the severe traffic congestion despite months of complaints. As a result, residents in the area are facing increased hardships due to the daily traffic jams.

CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa could not be contacted for comment on the matter.

A CDA officer, speaking to The Express Tribune, acknowledged that the project has been delayed. However, he said the process of laying electrical wires has been completed. Despite this progress, the officer conceded that completing the project by the end of this month is still not feasible.

Attempts were made to contact SSP Traffic Muhammad Sarfraz Virk to discuss the traffic police authorities' inadequate response to the severe traffic congestion, which persists for several hours daily. However, The Express Tribune was informed that the SSP was in a meeting.

The ongoing delays and lack of effective traffic management have created a frustrating and challenging situation for residents who rely on Park Road. The absence of timely action and proper communication from relevant authorities has only added to their woes, making daily commutes a significant ordeal for thousands.

Separately, the preliminary meeting regarding the construction of the Jinnah Medical Complex concluded with an agreement to finalise the Terms of Reference (TORs) for hiring financial and technical advisory services for the project as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's Coordinator for Health, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Barth, presided over the meeting.

Key attendees included the secretary of national health services, the CDA chairman, representatives from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A), and officers from related institutions.

The meeting was convened following the prime minister's instructions to initiate work on the Jinnah Medical Complex immediately. Participants discussed the design and master plan of the medical complex, emphasizing the importance of acquiring financial and technical advisory services to ensure the project's successful execution.