ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) opened one of the underpasses of the Serena interchange project to traffic on Monday.

Under the said project, three underpasses with loops will be constructed: one on Khayaban-i-Suhrwardi and two on Srinagar Highway.

The underpass on Khayaban-iSuhrwardi in front of Serena has been opened. This single-barrel underpass will cater to traffic moving from Globe Chowk (Constitution Avenue) towards Aabpara.

The traffic moving towards Constitution Avenue outside Serena will use the old route, which is alsobeing overhauled.

During a visit to the site on Monday, Dawn noticed that structural work on two other underpasses on Srinagar Highway had been completed, but it seemed that it would require some time to complete the entire project.

The foundation stone of the project worth Rs4.2 billion was laid by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 5.

The project was supposed to be completed in 60 days i.e. on January 5. But it faced delays due to slush and a nullah, said the CDA officials.

`Despite all challenges, we completed Suhrwardi underpass and today, it has been opened to traffic, said an official and added that work on the remaining two underpasses continued at a full pace.

`We are making all-out efforts to get the entire project completed by Jan 24.

Hopefully, we will get it completed, as now our work is in the final stages,` he said. After the completion of this project, the traffic mess at this junction will likely be resolved.According to a statement by the CDA, Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa visited the site on Monday and showed satisfaction with the pace of work.

`Completion of this underpass is a milestone as it will provide easy access to citizens,` the statement quoted the CDA as saying. He also directed the CDA teams to get the horticulture work of the project completed at the earliest.

Sources said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had directed the CDA to complete this project as early as possible.

He had directed the CDA to complete all aspects of the project, including horticulture work and lane markings, by the end of this month, as Pakistan was going to host the Champion`s Trophy next month and visiting teams would stay in Islamabad.

As per PC-I, the completion time of this project was six months, but the target had been revised to 60 days after the directions of the prime minister and the interior minister. After 68days, the Suhrwardi underpass has been opened.

Meanwhile, CDA is also working on another important and separate project to provide a direct link between Murree Road and Srinagar Highway to get maximum benefit from underpasses being constructed on Srinagar Highway.

Without the construction of an underpass on Murree Road to link it with Srinagar Highway, traffic from Murree Road cannot enter Srinagar Highway. Without it, the motorists will have to go to the Kashmir Chowk (also known as Dhokri Chowk) to move towards Srinagar Highway. In light of this requirement, the CDA through a consultant has already completed the initialdesign ofthe underpass.

`Soon we will start work on the Murree Road underpass as well,` said an official, adding that the CDA chief had already visited the Murree Road site and directed the officials concerned to expedite pre-tender requirements, such as the approval of final design and budget estimates.