Islamabad has been going through rapid infrastructural transition for the past couple of years. The latest in the series is the announcement of new underpasses at two traffic junctions — one at the Faisal Mosque chowk and the other at Kashmir Chowk on Murree Road, the circle diverting traffic towards the most popular and busiest hill station from the Rawalpindi side.

These projects follow more than a dozen and half projects completed in the federal capital over the past three years.

The capital city administration aims to strengthen emergency response services and improve the financial sustainability of the Capital Development Authority. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the CDA, has announced these projects recently. He has directed the authorities to fast-track key projects across the federal capital.

Chairing a recent meeting at the CDA Headquarters, he said: “Two new underpasses will be constructed to ease traffic congestion and facilitate smoother movement across Islamabad. Construction of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass and the Faisal Mosque Underpass is scheduled to begin soon.” He urged officials to make the 1122 system fully functional with rapid response in Islamabad.

“These underpasses might be the need of the time but they should be constructed with proper planning and design,” said resident Israr Ahmed, adding, “We have seen a lack of planning and design in previous projects.” He mentioned flaws in already completed projects at F-9 Park, Serena Chowk, and T-Chowk at Rawat. Recent reports by the Auditor General of Pakistan have also highlighted flaws in such projects, including the F-9 Park flyover.

Another resident, Muhammad Daud, who commutes daily to Islamabad via Kashmir Chowk, said the planning should have been undertaken earlier when the CDA was constructing the Serena Chowk project, because Kashmir Chowk is just a couple of hundred yards away.

“Such announcements speak of a lack of planning,” he said. He also cited poor planning in the construction of the Park View Road underpass to facilitate the new Margalla Enclave, a joint project of the CDA and the DHA.

Many concerned citizens also say that the CDA seems focused on development projects but is paying little attention to a sustainable and long-term plan. 

“The project was to be completed in a couple of months but it is still not complete. Thousands of people suffer daily on account of it. Now we will see thousands of people again suffer from similar diversions and traffic hurdles. A lot of time will be wasted because of such projects,” he said.

Another resident, Iqbal Akhtar, suggested that there should be more flyovers rather than underpasses, because the two roads where underpasses are planned are quite wide and flyovers can be constructed with less disruption.

The CDA has already started work on the Expressway Service Road Project, upgrading it to six lanes to ease the traffic. The 8.5-kilometre road is being developed from Faizabad to Gulberg Greens, with a flyover to connect it with the Expressway at Faizabad and an underpass at the junction of Lehtrar Road and Khanna Bridge. Meanwhile, over half a dozen projects related to infrastructure, public services and urban management are under way.

“These projects reflect the government’s focus on enhancing civic facilities, reducing traffic bottlenecks and building a financially resilient municipal administration capable of supporting Islamabad’s growing development needs,” the minister has said.

Many concerned citizens say that the CDA seems focused on development projects but is paying little attention to a sustainable and long-term planning. A revision of Islamabad’s master plan has been due for many years.

“Rather than making haphazard developments and small projects, the administration should come up with a proper long-term plan, at least a five-year plan,” said Abdul Hameed, a senior citizen. “These projects are perhaps needed too, but they are not comprehensive solutions. There is a need for a policy approach to benefit from collective wisdom,” he said.

The last major effort for a master plan was made during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf regime. At that time a report was also sought from an international consultant. Now, matters related to the master plan are pending with the federal government.

The author is a staff reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].