The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken a major step toward easing one of the city’s most notorious traffic bottlenecks—the T-Chowk junction at the intersection of GT Road and Islamabad Expressway.
Financial bids for the Rs 1.4 billion flyover project were opened this week, with Habib Construction Services (HCS), in partnership with ZKB, emerging as the likely winner after submitting the most competitive proposal.
Only two companies entered the bidding. The HCS-ZKB joint venture quoted a price 2 percent lower than the government’s estimated cost, while the other bid came in at more than 11 percent higher. Officials keep on saying that the lowest bid will be sent to the competent authority for approval before formal work orders are issued.
A Fast-Track Project
The project visualizes a 570-meter-long flyover on GT Road, and it is providing direct access for vehicles coming from Lahore towards the Islamabad Expressway. Besides this, a slip road will be constructed to assist traffic heading back towards Lahore.
Although the PC-1 document sets a five-month timeline, CDA engineers believe the project could be completed in just three months if work is expedited.
Read more: CDA to launch two more mega road projects on GT Road and Shaheen Chowk
“This project is critical for easing congestion and improving traffic flow. Around 100,000 motorists use this corridor daily, and the delays at T-Chowk have long been a source of frustration,” said Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza.
He added that, under the directions of the Interior Minister and the CDA Chairman, the authority has already delivered two major infrastructure schemes and will push for the early completion of this one as well.
Beyond T-Chowk
The T-Chowk flyover is part of a broader push by CDA to address a number of traffic issues in the capital. Financial bids for the Rs 1.3 billion Shaheen Chowk underpass—a project is strongly intended at relieving congestion near Ninth Avenue and Khayaban-i-Iqbal—are due next week. At the same time, the authority is also advancing plans to extend Margalla Road from GT Road to the Motorway.