ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority has completed the main project of T-Chowk Flyover in 90 days — two months before the deadline.

The 1.1km flyover worth Rs1.4 billion has been constructed at the junction of G.T. Road and Islamabad Expressway to ensure smooth access to traffic coming from Lahore side.

As per PC-I, the project was supposed to be completed by February 19. However, the CDA team and construction company completed the task in three months.

The project’s foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on September 12.

“Our main project is completed and ready for inauguration. Hopefully, it will be inaugurated anytime this week except Monday (today), as some minor work are pending,” said an official of the CDA.

Project is complete and hopefully will be inaugurated anytime this week, says CDA official

The flyover, like the ongoing Shaheen Chowk project, saw an increase in its cost up to 15 per cent. The CDA official said this increase was imperative as an extra lane was added at grade besides construction of some U-turns.

“No illegality was involved in increasing the scoop of the work as Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules allow up to 15pc increase in scope of any ongoing work, if required,” he said and added that extra work was done to facilitate motorists.

The second ongoing project - Shaheen Chowk underpass - is also near completion and officials said will be ready this month.

The underpass is being constructed at the junction of 9th Avenue and Khyaban-i-Iqbal (commonly known as Margalla Road), where traffic congestion was a routine issue. The foundation stone of this project was laid by the prime minister on October 24 and, as per the PC-I, it is supposed to be completed in April. However, the project is being executed at a fast pace and is now heading towards completion. This project also saw a 15pc cost increase.

“CDA and its consultant should have added all components in main design of the project, as in both projects, the scopes of work were revised, which is not good. In future, CDA should avoid such a practice,” an official source said. He, however, appreciated the performance of CDA in completing these two mega projects within shortest possible time to avoid cost escalation and suffering of people. “The credit goes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman CDA Mohammad Ali Randhawa and its team,” he said and added that CDA does not have a good track record of completing mega projects on time.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2025