Ongoing Work on Islamabad Expressway Expansion Likely to Miss Deadline.

The ongoing expansion work on Islamabad Expressway is expected to miss the March 24 deadline, as approximately 40% of the project remains incomplete. While some officials from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) remain confident that the project will be completed by March, they emphasize the need for smooth funding flow.

According to a source, the progression of the project suggests that it is unlikely for the expansion work to be finished by June, let alone March. The completion of the project within the deadline would be considered an accomplishment for the CDA.

The contract for the rehabilitation and expansion of the seven-kilometer portion of the expressway, including various bridges and an underpass, was awarded to the Frontier Work Organisation (FWO) in September 2022 for a total of Rs. 10.9 billion. The project was expected to be completed by March 2024.

However, sources reveal that only 60% of the work has been completed so far, and it is uncertain if the remaining work can be finished in the next three months. The project involves the construction of two rigid and two flexible lanes on each side of the expressway to alleviate traffic congestion, as the previous road only had two lanes on each side.

The expressway is a significant road in the federal capital, catering to both light and heavy traffic, especially between Islamabad and Lahore. While the widening project has been announced multiple times, it was officially initiated last year.

CDA officials have assured that the work will be completed by March, despite the remaining 40% of pending work. They explain that the major portion of the road has been completed, and the current focus is on three main bridges of the project. Approximately 4 kilometers of the road from G.T. Road to Kak Pul has already been completed, while the work in the remaining area is ongoing in patches.

In a separate project worth Rs. 2 billion, the CDA has recently completed a 2-kilometer portion of the expressway from Korang Bridge to PWD Interchange. However, the expansion of the railway bridge near the PWD Interchange is still in progress.

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