Update (October 15, 2019): In a recent development, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approached the federal government for a permission to allow the authority to proceed with the construction of Korang bridge and PWD underpass at Islamabad Expressway signal free corridor. As per a recent update on the CDA’s official FB page, the government had approved funding through PSDP of PKR 10,753 million from Karal Interchange to GT Road. The PC-I for the development of signal free and controlled access corridor of Islamabad Expressway from Karal Interchange to GT Road was submitted for approval of ECNEC subject to finalization rationalization of PC-I cost and scope. Planning Commission had informed that all funds allocated in PSDP for under approval schemes were deleted during revised budget. However, considering public grievances the federal government has allocated PKR 500 million in the PSDP 2019-2020. The CDA has approached the federal government to allow them to work under already approved PC-I. The estimated cost of these two structures is PKR 1.30 billion. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To address residents’ woes and to ease traffic congestion on Islamabad Expressway, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to construct Korang bridge and underpass at PWD in order to make the highway a signal free corridor. What are the high traffic areas on Islamabad Expressway? How will the construction of the Korang bridge on Islamabad Expressway help traffic issues? And, above all, how this will benefit the people of Islamabad? These are some of the questions that we will attempt to answer in this blog.
Problems faced by residents on Islamabad Expressway
The mounting pressure of vehicular traffic on Islamabad Expressway is making it difficult for residents to commute. On August 21, 2019, in an extremely tragic and unfortunate accident, a speeding truck overturned and hit five cars on the road.
For residents living in Zone V of Islamabad, this is not an isolated incident, there have been various incidents like these in the past.
As per a report published in an English daily, “The Islamabad Traffic Police had banned entry of heavy traffic in the city for 7 hours on a daily basis to keep the traffic moving during peak hours and for maximum convenience of the road users. Entry of heavy traffic is not allowed at the Expressway from 7 am to 10 am, and from 4 pm to 8 pm.”
“Under the plan, the heavy traffic coming from Grand Trunk (GT) Road Lahore or heading to Sabzi Mandi from GT Road Peshawar is not allowed to enter the city during the 7-hour period. Likewise, heavy traffic coming from Azad Kashmir via Murree, Bhara Kau, Kotli Sattrayn, Lehtrar Road, Kahuta or Rawalpindi Kahuta road is also banned to enter the capital,” the report added.
Residents demand that the ban on heavy vehicles and loaded trucks from 7 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 8 PM should be implemented with full force as this is the time when people head to their offices or return home from work.
Islamabad Expressway is the main artery of the federal capital and one of the busiest roads in the city. Several housing societies are connected with the thoroughfare, facilitating thousands of people reach their destinations – offices, business centres, educational institutions and schools.
Almost daily people suffer because of severe traffic congestion and bottlenecks especially at Lohi Bher, Gulberg Interchange, Soan Garden sections and in particular from Koral Chowk to PWD Housing Scheme on Islamabad Expressway. Traffic congestion has become a regular feature of this road. People who take Islamabad Expressway have to spend hours on the road, almost daily, stuck in traffic, to cover distance that’s essentially only a few minutes’ drive.
The first phase of the Islamabad Expressway signal-free corridor was completed last year after the Khanna Pull Interchange was opened to traffic. The first phase of the project under which the Islamabad Highway was to be turned into a ‘Five-lane Signal Free Corridor’ started from T- Chowk on the G.T. Road up to the Faisal Chowk on the old Margalla Road.
From Faisal Chowk all the way to Gulberg Greens, a five-lane road already existed. The CDA had to further construct three interchanges, at Soan Garden section, the Khanna pull and near the Koral Chowk to convert it into signal free corridor in the first phase.
The first part of the expansion plan of Islamabad Expressway had already been completed with the construction of 4 interchanges at I-8, Soan, Khanna and Koral. But the second part of the expansion plan leading towards Rawat is facing delays due to lack of funding.
The CDA is also expected to widen the narrow, two-lane bridges on Korang nullah, which cause severe traffic jams, especially while exiting Islamabad and going towards G.T. Road.
CDA introduced interim remedies on Islamabad Expressway
The Capital Development Authority decided to have a few interim arrangements in August, 2019 as the allocation of funds by the federal government were not enough to widen the Islamabad Expressway from Koral to Rawal.
As per a report published in a local English daily, the CDA planned to start working on improvement of protected U-Turns around PWD and Pakistan Town from 21st August, 2019. It was decided in a meeting that CDA engineering wing and traffic police would take a look at the area and suggest interventions to be taken up on an emergency basis to ease the traffic flow.
This was a temporary arrangement to keep the traffic flow smooth in this area. The interim arrangement involved repairing of roads and removal of potholes. Moreover, it was planned that slip lanes for the entrance and the exit of PWD and Pakistan Town was to be provided while widening the U-Turn at PWD signal to ensure the uninterrupted traffic flow at these locations. It was expected that the interim project will be completed with the support from the housing projects in the adjoining areas along with CDA resources. However, this could not be carried out.
Construction of Korang Bridge and PWD underpass on Islamabad Expressway
In the most recent update, the CDA will be using its own resources to construct the Korang bridge and PWD underpass at Islamabad Expressway, to ease traffic congestion and bottlenecks on the capital city’s main thoroughfare. This is the need of the hour as many traffic accidents and untoward incidents have taken place on the highway.
A meeting was held on the CDA headquarters, where expansion of Islamabad Expressway was discussed. The members attending the meeting were informed of the importance of expansion project and how commuters have to face problems daily.
As per a report published in DAWN, “The CDA agreed to take up the matter with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms for its early approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).The meeting was also informed that a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) grant of Rs500 million had been allocated for the project. The participants discussed different viable solutions for the completion of the signal-free expressway corridor. It was decided that first a bridge on Korang River would be constructed.”
As per the CDA’s website, “It was discussed during a visit by Chairman CDA and IG Islamabad that rather than focusing on short term measures like protected U-turns it is important to start the full project. Consequently instructions have been issued that letter may be written to Finance and planning department for permission to start the project with own resources. It is expected that a reply in this regard will be revived by the end of the week and tenders should be issued next week for development work.”
So, this was the latest update about constructing Korang bridge on Islamabad Expressway. If you are interested to know how CDA is taking measures to set up a smart traffic management system in Islamabad, then read our detailed piece on CDA’s route planner app in Islamabad. For more of these trending posts and latest information, subscribe to the best lifestyle blog in Pakistan. Do write to us at blog@zameen.com and share your feedback.C
