The Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad is currently facing significant setbacks in the progress of its development initiatives. Several key projects undertaken by the CDA have failed to meet their completion deadlines or are progressing at a sluggish pace. This article explores the challenges faced by the CDA in completing these projects on time and provides insights into the reasons behind the delays.
Bhara Kahu Bypass: A Project in Limbo
The Bhara Kahu Bypass, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in October 2022, was supposed to be completed by January 2023. However, despite multiple extended deadlines, the project remains unfinished. Legal disputes with Quaid-i-Azam University and a series of accidents have contributed to the continuous delays.
Importance of the Bhara Kahu Bypass
The timely completion of the Bhara Kahu Bypass is crucial as it serves as a main route to popular tourist destinations such as Murree, Galiat, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. These areas experience increased traffic flow during the summer season. The project, worth Rs. 6.5 billion, spans 5 kilometers and includes a 1-kilometer flyover. It starts from Murree Road near Quaid-i-Azam University and ends near the Jugi bus stop, adjacent to Punjab Cash and Carry.
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Margalla Avenue Road Project: Delays and Disputes
The Margalla Avenue road project, initially set for completion in June 2022, has faced significant delays. While the physical progress of the project stands at 95% completion, except for a one-kilometer section, disputes with locals and the contractor have postponed the project’s scheduled inauguration in March 2023. The 10.4-kilometer-long Margalla Avenue road, costing Rs. 2 billion, spans from GT Road to D-12.
JP Road Overhaul and Widening: Missed Deadlines
The overhaul and widening of IJP Road, valued at Rs. 4.9 billion, were originally set to be completed in April 2023. However, the CDA has failed to meet the deadline. The project includes the construction of two flyovers, two bridges, and seven culverts. The flyovers are planned for 9th Avenue and IJP Road, while the bridges will be built at Kattarian and Pirwadhai.
Stagnation of the 10th Avenue Project
The construction work on the 10th Avenue project is nearly halted. Despite the original completion date set for September 2023, there is no visible progress on-site to meet the deadline. The reasons behind the stagnation of this project are yet to be addressed.
Slow Progress on Islamabad Expressway Expansion
The expansion of the Islamabad Expressway from Koral to T-Chowk on G.T. Road is progressing at a slow pace, leading to persistent traffic issues. It appears that the project has been overlooked by the CDA, further exacerbating the traffic problems in the area.
Political and Administrative Challenges
Insiders from the CDA’s engineering wing reveal that the change in government last year, followed by two changes in CDA chairmanship within a year, has disrupted the progress of development projects in Islamabad. Former Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed set ambitious deadlines during his tenure, and many projects were progressing rapidly until his departure. Muhammad Usman, his successor, efficiently managed these projects until he left the CDA
