Authorities are anticipating completion in mid-May of the current Murree Road underpass which would connect it with Srinagar Highway.
Work on the widening of Murree Road on both sides from Lake View Park till the underpass goes on apace.
Work began a few weeks ago and the project, as per PC-I, will take 60 days with an estimated cost of Rs 900 million.
It’s being done by the CDA as part of the Serena Interchange project, which they completed in February this year.
As per PC-I, the project will be done in 60 days with an estimated cost of Rs 900 million
Value of the Serena Interchange project stood at Rs 4.2 billion and as per CDA any project’s 15% expansion was valid; hence, the project is being built with a variance of 15%.
When asked why they had avoided the tendering procedure, a CDA official replied, “According to rules and regulations, we could carry out this project without fresh tender as 15% variation and additional work are covered legally. So rather than opting for a fresh tendering procedure, we hired the same contractor in the interest of time, as the work itself falls in the category of the Serena Project.”
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He added that no illegality had been committed and prior to initiating this project the issue had been put up before the CDA board which had agreed unanimously that it should be carried out as part of the earlier contract for Serena Interchange, the official added.
It can be observed that in the absence of the underpass, the motorists from the Murree direction had no direct access to enter Srinagar Highway. Citizens of Murree and other neighborhoods had been insisting the CDA build another underpass on Murree Road so that Srinagar Highway could be accessed smoothly.
Now, the motorists have to travel all the way up to Dhokri roundabout for a turn in case they want to enter Srinagar Highway and at times end up being stuck in the mess at the intersection. Subsequently, when the issue came into the notice of the CDA management, they opted for hiring Nespak as a consultant, who recommended the construction of one underpass and widening of the existing roads.
Work on the Serena Interchange worth Rs 4.2 billion was opened by the Prime Minister Shehbaz in February this year. CDA carried out the project in a span of three months.
Recently, the CDA carried out the multibillion-rupee Jinnah Avenue project against which questions have been raised over the design. Official sources revealed that the civic agency was also planning to initiate construction work on a new road to connect current Margalla Avenue with the Peshawar Motorway (MI).
Demarcation work on the road has been done and Islamabad Capital Territory revenue department has intensified efforts for acquisition of the land. Of the total road stretch of 3.4 km, 1.8 km lies in Rawalpindi and 1.6 in Islamabad, which will be built by the CDA. Authorities said that PC-I of the project had already been approved and estimates and design work had been done.
The civic body approved the project worth Rs 5.45 billion (land acquisition and construction) in August 2023 and if the work on it began, would be done in a span of eight months.