CDA Begins Bidding for 2 Major Road Projects in Islamabad

10/10/2024 admin

Major infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion at two critical junctions in the city are expected to commence later this month.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) opened financial bids on Tuesday for the Serena Chowk on Khayaban-i-Suharwardi and PTCL Chowk on 9th Avenue, with Habib Construction Services and Maakson Engineering Corporation emerging as the successful bidders.

The bids for the Serena Interchange amounted to Rs. 4.2 billion, while the PTCL Chowk project received a bid of Rs. 4.1 billion. Both companies’ bids were above the original tender costs, with the Serena project’s notice inviting tender (NIT) initially set at Rs. 4.086 billion. Habib Construction’s bid was 3.9 percent above this figure, while Maakson’s proposal for PTCL Chowk exceeded the NIT by 9.9 percent.

CDA officials emphasized the urgency of these projects, which aim to alleviate severe traffic jams that plague both junctions, particularly during peak hours. Despite previous announcements, this marks the first concrete step taken by the current management to tackle the issue effectively. Work is scheduled to begin after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization conference in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, with a completion timeline of six months.

The Serena Interchange project had faced delays previously, with former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif refusing to inaugurate it last year. CDA officials attributed the increased costs to significant design changes and additional requirements, justifying the new financial estimates. The agency has allocated budgetary funds for both projects, ensuring they will be carried out without financial constraints.

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