10th Avenue’s structure decays as CDA focuses on dual carriageway along the Expressway
ISLAMABAD: At a time when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to launch work on a multi-billion-rupee dual carriageway along Islamabad Expressway in place of the service road, the 10th Avenue project is seeking the attention of city managers for completion, as the incomplete structure of the stalled project has been decaying.
The civic agency was expecting allocation of funds by the federal government in the PSDP for 10th Avenue project. However, like the previous year, no fund was earmarked in the budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. It shows that the project is no longer on the priority list of the government.
“Comparison of the new dual carriageway and 10th Avenue is unjustified. 10th Avenue is a federal-funded project and the dual carriageway is CDA’s own project which will be executed through its own funding. But, yes, there is need to take up the matter of 10th Avenue again with the federal government for funding otherwise CDA should itself arrange funds for it,” said a director of CDA.
He said before the announcement of the federal budget, CDA had written at least three letters to the government pleading for the allocation of funds for 10th Avenue project.
The 10Aveneu project is almost lying abandoned for the last over one year. On ground, around 48pc work has already been carried out.
The earthwork on the project has been almost completed from IJP Road to H-9, and with little attention the government and CDA could finish this portion after carrying out asphalt work. Two bridges built under the project are already being used by motorists, but other incomplete infrastructure, such as pillars, are deteriorating.
“With around two billion funds, asphalt work and bridges connectivity with service roads could be done. So, at least this work should be done to bring the road under use of motorists from IJP Road to H-9,” said another director.
The 10th Avenue project worth Rs10.2 billion was started by the CDA with the federal funding in 2022 and was supposed to be completed by March 2024. Its deadline has been extended twice, but so far, only around 48pc work has been completed, according to sources.
CDA officials have attributed the delay to the slow release of funds, saying the government had released around Rs4 billion so far.
Under the project, a five-kilometre road is being constructed from Katarian Bridge on Karnal Sher Khan Road (formerly IJP Road) to Srinagar Highway near the intersection of G-9 and G-10 sectors.
In the federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26, the project was dropped from the funding list, and it was expected that the following year the government would allocate funds for the project. However, in the forthcoming budget, once again, no funds were allocated.
It is worth noting that 10th Avenue is a major artery in Islamabad, included in the city’s master plan. According to the plan, after every one sector, a major road is to be constructed. For example, 7th Avenue runs between G-6 and G-7, 8th Avenue (Faisal Avenue) passes through G-7 and G-8, and 9th Avenue divides G-8 and G-9.
After 9th Avenue, however, the CDA has failed to build any new major road, with 10th Avenue stuck in limbo.
Meanwhile, recently groundbreaking of the dual carriageway of the Expressway service road was performed by the interior minister. According to PC-I, the estimated cost of the project is Rs7.4 billion.
The CDA will construct the nine-kilometre dual carriageway (three lanes each side) in place of the existing dilapidated service road. It will start from Faizabad and culminate at Gulberg Green stop. For this project, CDA is in the process of hiring a government-owned construction firm.
CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani recently told Dawn that “10th Avenue project is awaiting funds from PSDP to ensure its timely completion.” He said the release of funds was important to avoid delays and maintain momentum in construction activities.