ISLAMABAD: Islamabad city officials expect the Murree Road underpass, which will connect to Srinagar Highway, to be finished by mid-May 2025.
As per the private newspaper report, Construction on the underpass and the widening of Murree Road from Lake View Park to the underpass is moving forward quickly.
The project began a few weeks ago and is set to take 60 days to complete, costing around Rs900 million, according to the project plan. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is handling this as part of the Serena Interchange project, which was finished in February.
The Serena Interchange project cost Rs4.2 billion. The CDA says it’s normal for projects to expand by up to 15%, and this underpass falls within that limit.
A CDA officer explained that they didn’t need a new tender because the rules allow this extra work under the existing Serena Interchange contract. He said the CDA board agreed to this plan, and there’s nothing illegal about it.
Without the underpass, drivers coming from Murree couldn’t directly reach Srinagar Highway. They had to go to the Dhokri roundabout, where traffic often gets congested. People from Murree and nearby areas have been asking the CDA to build this underpass for easier access.
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After hearing these concerns, the CDA hired Nespak as a consultant. Nespak suggested building one underpass and widening the roads. Prime Minister Shehbaz started the Serena Interchange project in February, and the CDA completed it in three months.
Recently, the CDA also finished the Jinnah Avenue project, though some have questioned its design. Now, the CDA is preparing to build a new road linking Margalla Avenue to the Peshawar Motorway (M1).
The road’s layout is done, and the Islamabad Capital Territory revenue department is working on acquiring the land. The 3.4 km road will have 1.8 km in Rawalpindi and 1.6 km in Islamabad, built by the CDA.
The project, costing Rs5.45 billion for construction and land, was approved in August 2023. Once it starts, officials say it will take eight months to finish. The project plan and design are already set.
