CDA plans to restart 10th Avenue and build 11th Avenue in Islamabad to handle rising traffic from the new Margalla Road–Motorway M-1 link and Rawalpindi Ring Road.
Islamabad is set for a fresh phase of road expansion as city authorities move to restart the stalled 10th Avenue project and push ahead with the construction of a new 11th Avenue. The decision is linked to a major new route connecting Margalla Road with Motorway M-1, which will later feed into the Rawalpindi Ring Road. With heavier traffic expected to enter the capital from these regional links, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning ahead to prevent future congestion.
Why Islamabad Needs 10th and 11th Avenues
According to officials, the CDA is currently finalising the tender process for the Margalla Road–M-1 link. Once this route becomes operational and connects with the Rawalpindi Ring Road, a large volume of intercity and regional traffic is expected to divert through Margalla Road into Islamabad. Without additional corridors, this new pressure could create bottlenecks on key city arteries.
To stay ahead of the problem, the authority has decided to revive 10th Avenue and go ahead with building 11th Avenue. Together, these two major roads are intended to distribute incoming traffic more evenly, reducing dependence on existing routes such as Margalla Avenue and Srinagar Highway. The move is part of a wider effort to complete long-planned links under the city’s original master plan.
Details of the New Road Links
The new Margalla Road–Motorway M-1 connection is seen as a strategic link between Islamabad and major regional corridors. By tying into the Rawalpindi Ring Road, it will allow traffic from different directions to bypass older, crowded routes and reach the capital more quickly. However, this convenience also means more vehicles converging on Islamabad’s northern and western edges.
In response, 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue are being planned as strong north–south and east–west arteries that will connect with Margalla Avenue, Srinagar Highway and other key roads. These avenues are expected to provide direct routes for traffic entering the city, lowering the load on internal streets and helping to maintain smoother flows across different sectors.
CDA’s Focus on Proactive Traffic Planning
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa, while chairing a recent meeting, highlighted the need for proactive planning as new regional road links become functional. He stressed that simply building one new route is not enough; the city’s internal network must also be upgraded so that traffic is managed in a controlled and predictable way.
Randhawa noted that completing missing links under Islamabad’s master plan will be essential for keeping traffic flowing across the city. Projects like 10th and 11th avenues are part of that bigger picture, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with growth in population, vehicle numbers and daily commuting between Islamabad, Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.
Environmental Impact Assessments for Future Projects
Alongside expansion plans, the CDA chairman also directed officials to ensure timely Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all future infrastructure projects before construction begins. EIAs are a legal and planning requirement that examine how new roads, bridges and other developments will affect air quality, noise levels, drainage, green spaces and nearby communities.
By insisting on EIAs at an early stage, the authority aims to reduce negative side effects of rapid urban development. For residents, this means that new avenues and links should be designed with better safeguards for the environment, including measures to manage stormwater, protect existing greenery where possible and control construction-related pollution.
What the New Avenues Mean for Commuters
For people who live in or travel through Islamabad, the revival of 10th Avenue and the launch of 11th Avenue promise easier access to different parts of the city once construction is complete. If planned and executed well, these roads can reduce travel times, cut fuel costs and make daily commutes less stressful by easing pressure on existing congested routes.
In the short term, commuters may experience diversions and construction activity as work on the new links gets underway. However, city planners argue that these temporary inconveniences are necessary to build a road network capable of handling future growth. Together with the Margalla Road–M-1 link and Rawalpindi Ring Road, the two new avenues are expected to play a central role in shaping how traffic moves through the capital in the years ahead.
