Islamabad, 11 Aug, 2023 (GNP): The federal government has approved a new route that will establish a link between Margalla Avenue and the M1 Motorway.
According to the sources, at a meeting of the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Development Working Party (DWP), the project’s chairman, Noor-ul-Mengal, gave his approval to the Rs. 5.45 billion project, which will be finished in eight months.
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The comprehensive plan encompasses the integration of an interchange at N5 as well. The new portion of the 5-kilometer-long road will interconnect Margalla Avenue, extending from G.T. Road to D-12, with the newly designated segment spanning from D-12 to E-11. This particular section is presently in the construction phase and is expected to reach completion shortly.
Furthermore, the civic agency is actively engaged in preparations for the anticipated 11th Avenue, which is projected to traverse from E-11 to the Srinagar Highway. This strategic initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion on Margalla Avenue and other related thoroughfares.
In a recent development, a directive was issued by a Senate committee instructing the CDA to halt the construction of a road from Shah Allah Ditta that traverses through the Margalla Hills National Park, forging a connection between the capital and Haripur. This action was taken during the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change meeting.
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During the meeting, Rina Saeed Khan, Chairwoman of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), provided insights into the CDA’s project initiation without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). She further said that Islamabad High Court (IHC) rulings prohibiting developmental activities within conservation areas. Khan raised concerns, alleging that the CDA’s motivation behind the road construction is geared more towards real estate ventures rather than serving the interests of local communities and visitors.
Highlighting the urgency of demarcating clear boundaries to thwart encroachments, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman addressed her efforts in liaising with relevant officials to impede the road construction across the national park.
