The Margalla Avenue has been a long time coming, but it is here now – and ready to be commissioned next week.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: With the crews tying the last remaining loose ends, Islamabad’s spanking new Margalla Avenue is likely to be ready for a formal inauguration next week, Independent Pakistan has learnt.
A source close to the proceedings said the inauguration of the six-lane expressway has been scheduled for February 22, 2023, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to officiate.
Eearlier, this month, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman CDA Noor Ul amin Mengal took to Twitter to announce Margalla Avenue will open to traffic soon.
Construction of the Margalla Avenue is now complete. In fact, package-I of the road has already been open to traffic for a while now.
The package-I of the projects starts from N5 Sangjani and terminates at SR West D-12 in a length of 10.4 km. Further work on the project including the 5.5km stretch from D-12 to E-11 is in progress.
Officials says safe city cameras will be provided as per design given by ICT Police. No toll and therefore no toll plaza is planned on the Avenue as of now. Heavy traffic will not be allowed in Islamabad in prescribed timing.
A provincial section of the Islamabad Ring Road, which starts from GT Road Sangjani, and has been completed up to Sector D-12 Islamabad.
According to PC-I of the project, the 10.4 km two-lane road was to be completed in June 2022. The contract for the project was awarded to Frontier Works Organization and National Logistics Cell (NLC).
However, more time was given to the contractor for changes in the plan according to which six-lane road has been constructed. The additional six-month period completed on December 30, 2022.
The new expressway will ease pressure on Srinagar Highway, until now the sole arterial connecting the capital to the N5 National Highway, M1 and M2 motorways, and the airport.
The road will enable direct access to the N-5 National Highway or GT Road – and through it to the M1 and M2 motorways as well as Islamabad’s new International airport.
The road was part of Islamabad’s master plan as far back as 1966. Its imminent realisation was first reported under military strongman Pervez Musharraf, as an alternative to Srinagar Highway, still the only arterial linking Islamabad with the N5 National Highways, M1 and M2 motorways, and the new airport.
The project gathered dust until the time of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, when the opening of the new airport drew near. The project was finally got underway in 2012, when it was estimated to cost PKR 744 million. The completion deadline was June 2013.
The project then faced delays for one reason or another until the government of former Prime Minister Imran Khan integrated it into its Islamabad Ring Road. He laid the foundation stone for the project in March 2022.
The long cherished dream is set to come to fruition on the watch of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Will he find time to inaugurate it?
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