ISLAMABAD: Work on the Shaheen Chowk underpass in Islamabad is moving ahead quickly, with almost 50 percent of the project completed so far.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Rs1.3 billion, 1.3-kilometre-long underpass on October 24. Since then, officials said the construction has continued at a fast pace. As per the PC-I, the project is supposed to be completed in six months.
However, during a recent visit to the site, it was observed that if work continues at the same speed, the underpass may be completed by the end of December, possibly around December 25.
According to a press release, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, along with Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza, visited the site to inspect the progress.
During the briefing, officials informed the CDA chairman that 80 percent of the barrel wall work has been completed. They added that 60 percent of Ramp One’s wall work is also finished, while the barrel girder work of the project has been completed 100 percent.
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The engineering team further reported that earthwork and road construction are progressing well, and work on the walls of Ramp Two has already begun. They said that construction activities are taking place round the clock to ensure timely completion.
The press release stated that the CDA chairman expressed satisfaction with the progress. He instructed officials to maintain high-quality standards and ensure that all work is completed within the set timeline.
He also directed teams to focus on beautification, including landscaping, digital boards, and LED lights.
Mr Randhawa said the underpass will play an important role in easing Islamabad’s traffic problems. It will provide signal-free travel for daily commuters and students from nearby educational institutions, while also helping to reduce congestion.
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He asked the project director and resident engineers to closely monitor all ongoing activities and ensure top-quality construction.
Meanwhile, work on another major project, the T-Chowk flyover, is also progressing quickly and is now nearing completion. Both the Shaheen Chowk underpass and the T-Chowk flyover are being built by the same contractors. Around 70 percent of the T-Chowk project has already been completed.
An official said, “Our target is to complete the T-Chowk project next month.” Once completed, the flyover will provide direct access to Islamabad Expressway for traffic coming from Lahore.
