CDA has finished the T-Chowk Flyover in just 90 days, two months before deadline, promising smoother traffic from Lahore and faster commutes for Islamabad residents.
Flyover Finished Before Official Deadline
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the main work on the T-Chowk Flyover in record time, finishing it around two months ahead of schedule. The 1.1 kilometre long flyover, worth approximately Rs1.4 billion, has been built at the busy junction of G.T. Road and Islamabad Expressway. This is one of the key entry points for traffic coming from the Lahore side into Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
According to the official project plan (PC-I), the flyover was supposed to be completed by February 19. However, the CDA team and the contractor managed to deliver the core structure in nearly 90 days. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on September 12, making the pace of work particularly notable by the usual standards of public sector construction in the capital.
Smoother Access for Traffic from Lahore Side
T-Chowk has long been known as a serious traffic bottleneck, especially during peak hours and holidays when traffic from Lahore and other cities enters the twin cities. With the completion of the new flyover, vehicles will now be able to move more smoothly along the Islamabad Expressway without facing the frequent traffic jams that previously occurred at the junction.
Officials say the flyover is ready for inauguration and is expected to open to the public within days, once minor finishing work is completed. For daily commuters, especially those who travel between Rawat, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the project is expected to save both time and fuel, reduce accidents and improve the overall driving experience on this busy corridor.
Cost Escalation and Extra Lanes Under PPRA Rules
Like the ongoing Shaheen Chowk project, the T-Chowk Flyover also saw a cost increase of up to 15 percent compared to the original estimate. CDA officials explain that this rise in cost was linked to an expanded scope of work, which included the addition of an extra lane at grade and the construction of new U-turns to better manage traffic.
They argue that no illegality was involved because Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules allow up to a 15 percent increase in the scope of any ongoing work when required. According to them, the extra works were approved to provide additional convenience to motorists and to reduce congestion in surrounding areas. Even with this cost escalation, the early completion is being seen as a way to avoid further increases due to delays and inflation.
Shaheen Chowk Underpass Also Nears Completion
The T-Chowk Flyover is not the only major infrastructure project being fast-tracked in the federal capital. The Shaheen Chowk underpass, another important scheme aimed at easing traffic, is also close to completion and expected to be ready within this month. The underpass is being built at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Khyaban-i-Iqbal, commonly known as Margalla Road, where long queues and delays were a routine issue.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the Shaheen Chowk underpass on October 24. As per the approved plan, the project was to be completed in April, but it is now being delivered ahead of that deadline as well. This project, too, has witnessed a cost increase of around 15 percent, again linked to an expanded scope of work.
Praise for Speed, Questions on Planning
Some officials and observers have praised the CDA, its consultants and contractors for completing both the T-Chowk Flyover and Shaheen Chowk underpass in a much shorter time than usual. They say this has helped avoid long-term cost escalation and reduced public inconvenience that typically comes with prolonged road closures and diversions. Credit has also been given to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and the broader CDA team for pushing the projects to completion.
At the same time, there are questions about why the original designs did not fully include all the components that were later added as scope revisions. Critics argue that future CDA projects should be planned more carefully from the start so that later changes in scope and cost can be minimised. Even so, the early completion of these two mega projects marks a notable improvement for a city where large infrastructure schemes have often been delayed in the past, and it offers some relief to commuters who have long struggled with congestion on key routes into and across Islamabad.
