CDA to launch 8-km motorway

Islamabad: Six months after the opening of the 7th Avenue, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) added another feather to its cap with the inauguration of the eight-kilometre 9th Avenue on Thursday.

CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari termed the avenue, also called the Agha Shahi Avenue, ‘Islamabad’s Motorway’ and said it would turn out to be one the most beautiful roads in the capital.

The avenue that runs from Khayaban-e-Iqbal to IJP Road that has been built at a cost of Rs 1,686.373 million has three underpasses on its stretch. There are plans to add underpasses at three other points on the avenue besides two interchanges to make it completely signal-free.

“We have been able to complete this project three months ahead of the scheduled time and this has been possible only because of good teamwork involving CDA, contractors and others,” Lashari said while inaugurating the road. The portion of the 9th Avenue from IJP Road up to Peshawar Morr comprises rigid lanes, three on each side of the dual carriage, to cope with the load of heavy vehicles. One of its sections between Khayaban-e-Iqbal and Jinnah Avenue had already been opened to the traffic. However, CDA officials said, with the formal inauguration of the road, the traffic load on Islamabad Highway looked set to decrease.