ISLAMABAD – The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to cancel its earlier plan to widen the loops of the Faizabad Interchange and will instead issue new tenders for the full redesign and expansion of the entire interchange.
The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa. Officials said the earlier tender, worth around Rs200 million, was aimed only at widening the loops.
Bids had been received and opened, but the CDA decided not to issue the work order, saying the plan would only offer a temporary fix to the traffic problem.
“Today, I instructed the engineering wing to work on a permanent solution instead of just widening the loops,” said the CDA chairman.
The CDA has now tasked three consultancy firms with preparing a master plan for the full redesign of the interchange. Once the designs are ready, they will be presented to the Interior Minister.
The plan will be executed in phases according to the available budget, with the aim of resolving traffic congestion for the next three decades.
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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier directed the CDA to address the daily traffic jams at Faizabad, especially on the loop linking Murree Road with the Expressway.
Built in the 1990s, the Faizabad Interchange now faces heavy congestion, with about 24,000 vehicles using the loop towards Lahore daily and 12,000 heading to Rawalpindi. Overall, the highway sees around 150,000 vehicles each day.
CDA officials said the authority is already working on other major projects, including Jinnah Square and the F-8 Interchange. Work is also in progress on the Shaheen Chowk underpass, a flyover at GT Road–Expressway junction, and a new road connecting Margalla Road to the Peshawar Motorway.
Technical bids for the Shaheen Chowk and GT Road projects have been opened, with financial bids expected soon.
Earlier, the CDA announced that it would build 25 cricket grounds and 25 football grounds across Islamabad, along with modern sports complexes in various sectors to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle among residents.
The initiative aims to provide better recreational facilities, especially for the youth, while adding to the city’s beauty and community development, CDA spokesperson said.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Ali Randhawa. In a news release, Randhawa said the project reflects the authority’s commitment to improving public facilities and creating more spaces for physical activity.
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“These grounds and complexes will be state-of-the-art, ensuring that Islamabad’s residents have access to quality sports infrastructure,” he said.
The plan is part of a broader development agenda that also includes upgrading major roads, building new underpasses to ease traffic, improving park lighting, restoring green spaces, and installing modern streetlights.
According to the CDA, the sports grounds will be set up in different sectors for easy access and existing grounds will also be upgraded. Paddle courts will be added, and pedestrian bridges in sports areas will be improved.
Randhawa said transparency and quality will be ensured through third-party audits. “Our goal is to make Islamabad a model capital where sports, recreation, and urban development go hand in hand,” he added.
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