ISLAMABAD(National Times)-The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday said construction work on the Margalla Avenue extension from N5 to M1 was progressing at full pace. The project will serve as a gateway for people travelling between Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Completion of the project will provide easy access to Islamabad for citizens travelling within and outside the City, particularly those coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similarly, this project will serve as a gateway for those coming from Abbottabad, Mansehra and other cities,” said CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf during his visit to the site.

He stated that citizens travelling to Islamabad International Airport will also benefit significantly from the project. Margalla Road currently ends near D-12, forcing traffic from F, G and H sectors to use Srinagar Highway or IJP Road to reach the motorway.

According to the CDA, the new link will give northern Islamabad direct access to M-1, easing congestion on Kashmir Highway and 9th Avenue. The 2.7-kilometre road starts from GT Road and will culminate near the Sangjani Grid Station within Islamabad’s limits, where it will be connected with another 2.5-kilometre road which falls in the limit of Rawalpindi and is being constructed by National Highway Authority (NHA) to be ultimately linked with the M-1.

According to a press release issued by the CDA, Mr Ashraf was briefed on the progress made so far on the project. He was told that construction activities were underway on a 24/7 basis, “vigorously and daily across the various sections of the project and that overall 35pc of work on the project has been completed.”

It said that the chairman was informed that work on the widening and extension of the main road over an approximate length of 2.7 kilometres was progressing rapidly, and that work on the service road alongside the main road was also proceeding swiftly.