CDA to start Margalla Avenue project next week

Scrutiny committee, land acquisition department yet submit their reports.

ISLAMABAD:

The much-awaited Margalla Avenue project will finally see the light of day. CDA Chairperson Engineer Farkhand Iqbal told The Express Tribune that the project would be launched next week.

The 13-kilometre, four-lane road will start from GT Road and will be constructed on the foothills of the Margalla Hills.

CDA sources said that 10 contractors had submitted their proposals for the project, with two companies — R M Gulistan and Rakhshani — submitting the lowest bids.

These companies offered to complete the road for Rs500 million against the CDA’s estimate of Rs750 million.

An official in CDA, when contacted, said the scrutiny committee is expected to submit its recommendation in favour of one of the two firms within the next week.

Regarding the land acquisition, the official said the concerned department is finalising its report which will also be submitted next week. He admitted that the authority will pay a heavy amount as compensation to landowners.

Iqbal said the road will address the traffic load on the western side of the city. “The road will provide a shorter route to vehicles coming from northern Pakistan, especially Peshawar.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2012.