ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to launch two more mega road projects.

Under these projects, a flyover/interchange will be constructed on GT Road to give direct access to traffic coming from Lahore side to Islamabad Expressway.

The civic agency has received bids for these two projects and after technical evaluation the financial bids will be opened before awarding the contracts.

Under a project with the estimated cost of Rs1.3 billion, the CDA will construct an underpass on the junction of Khayaban-i-Iqbal and 9th Avenue at Shaheen Chowk for which te chnical bids were opened on Monday.

Currently, the Shaheen Chowk junction faces major congestion during peak hoursbecause ofseveralgovernment offices and educational institutions in the area.

Under the project, an underpass will be built at Khayaban-i-Iqbal (Margalla Road) at the junction of 9th Avenue and traffic on the avenue will pass through the underpass while its top slab will be used to connect 9th Avenue with the service road.

A few days ago, technical bids for the GT Road project with an estimated cost of Rs1.4 billion were also opened. After technical evaluation, the CDA will open financial bids of these two projects.

Earlier this month, the CDA had rejected a lone bid for Shaheen Chowk project submitted by a bidder and opted for new tenders, which were opened on Monday.

Sources said for GT Road/T Chowk project, two bidders were in race while for Shaheen Chowk CDA has received three bids.

`Yes, we have received bids of both projects and soon after technical evaluation we will open financial bids,` said member engineering Syed Nafasat Raza.

He said these projects are imperative for smooth flow of traffic in Islamabad.

`Once started, the Shaheen Chowk project, as per PC-I, will be completed in 150 days while T Chowk will be completed in 180 days,` he said.

`On the instruction of the interior minister and the CDA chairman, the engineering wing has been taking every possible step to resolve traffic related issues of Islamabad,` he said.

It is relevant to note here that the current management of the CDA has already executed several mega road projects, including Jinnah Square (Serena interchange and Murree Road underpass) and F-8 interchange in a short period of time.

When contacted and asked about the funding of the two projects, an official of the CDA said the civic agency had funds collected from the recent auctions if commercial plots. Kashif Abbasi