Capital Development Authority to Launch Major Traffic Relief Projects in Islamabad

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General

Capital Development Authority to Launch Major Traffic Relief Projects in Islamabad

October 10, 2024

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced plans to begin significant infrastructure projects at two of the city’s most congested points—Serena Chowk on Khayaban-i-Suharwardi and PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue. These initiatives aim to mitigate the severe traffic congestion that plagues these areas during peak hours.

According to Zameen.Com, the CDA has finalized financial bids for the two projects, with the contracts awarded to Habib Construction Services for the Serena interchange and Maakson Engineering Corporation for the PTCL Chowk project. The financial bids, which were opened on Tuesday, resulted in offers of PKR 4.2 billion for the Serena interchange and PKR 4.1 billion for the PTCL Chowk. This step paves the way for the commencement of work, which is set to begin shortly after the approval of the bids by the CDA chairman.

The urgency of these projects is underscored by their scheduled start date, shortly following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference set for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad. The CDA plans to issue work orders to the lowest bidders this month. Although one of the three firms that submitted technical bids was disqualified for not meeting the CDA’s criteria, the selected firms’ bids were above the initial tender cost estimates, with Habib Construction Services’ bid for the Serena interchange being 3.9% higher and Maakson Engineering Corporation’s bid for the PTCL Chowk 5.5% higher than the projected costs.

The increased bid amounts are attributed to significant changes in project design and additional work included in the final plans. Despite concerns raised over the 40-day delay in opening the financial bids after the technical review, the CDA reassures that these projects are crucial and are expected to be completed within six months from their commencement.

The CDA has allocated funds for these projects in its current fiscal budget and plans to execute them using its own resources, ensuring that these traffic management improvements are implemented without delay.