ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Expressway project, which has previously missed two deadlines, has been given a new timeline. Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the Chief of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), has instructed the relevant department to complete the project by August 14 instead of the initially planned date of September 30, 2024.
The CDA chairman visited the project site and instructed the contractor to complete the ongoing work by August 14. “To make the Expressway a signal-free corridor, the work should be completed in time for its inauguration on August 14,” he told the contractor and CDA’s engineering staff during the inspection.
As per press release issued by the CDA, the chairman stated that, following the direction of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, this project has seen significant progress in recent months.
The statement quoted the chairman as saying that there should be no compromise on quality and that he was tasked by the interior minister to oversee the project. The original deadline for the project was March 2024, which was extended to September 30 this year.
However, the CDA Chief established a new deadline and instructed the staff to complete the project by August 14.
CDA officials told private media that the August 14 inauguration was feasible due to significant progress made over the past few months, resulting from constant oversight of the contractor and the engineering wing by the chairman.
They stated that the work on several bridges, which are part of the project, has been completed, while the railway bridge has 90% of its work finished.
“…we are in a position to complete this project as soon as possible. The extended deadline for the project is September 30, but as per the direction of the CDA chairman, the project can be opened by August 14,” said a CDA official.
