The users of private and public transport are already feeling jittery at the prospect of upcoming severe traffic jams at the Islamabad Highway in the wake of construction work on major portions of PM-sanctioned signal-free corridor.
Hence, they have started pleading for complete ban on heavy traffic, particularly trucks, on the highway during peak hours when the work is taken in hand.
As the authorities are ready to kick off work on Koral interchange, to be followed, sooner than later, by the widening of the road from Koral-to Rawat, the motorists can foresee the chaos and bedlam on the road when the work is in full swing.
The two dilapidated lanes on each side of the highway from Koral chowk to T-chowk are packed with traffic due to presence of large number of private housing societies alongside the road and ban on the entry of heavy traffic into Rawalpindi.
It is being feared that during the construction of three inter-changes one each at Koral, Japan Road and T-chowk, together with an underpass at Gulberg-Judicial intersection, the problems of motorists will further inculcate and some immediate steps are needed to be taken in this regard.
“Capital Development Authority (CDA) has already started trimming of grass and cleaning surrounding areas of Koral chowk, while laboratory testing and installation of concrete plants has also been initiated,” said Project Director Shahid Mehmood, adding, the interchange would cost Rs. 1.70 billion and would be completed within a period of eight months. “Once the machinery will arrive and formal work is started at the junction, flow of traffic will definitely disturb adding to the woes of motorists,” said Mumtaz Alvi, a businessman by profession and living at Judicial Colony.
