Driving on 9th Avenue still a nightmare
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Driving on the newly inaugurated 9th Avenue is still a nightmare for motorists, who were seen trapped in choked traffic, even on sixth day after its opening, on all intersections of the road that has been claimed to be a freeway.
The Authority inaugurated the Avenue this week but the expectations of motorists went awry when they faced traffic congestion on every junction of the road including Peshawar Mor, Jinnah Avenue and IJ Principal Road.
CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari while addressing the inauguration of the avenue had claimed it was the first mega project that was inaugurated before time.
What so ever the reason behind the early opening of the avenue, but keeping in view the inconvenience being caused to the commuters during last six days, CDA needs to be more careful in planning and engineering also besides, opening or inaugurating any development project before time.
The Authority has now started widening of the intersections on the road to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
Following sever ecriticism from motorists; CDA Chairman has directed the contractor to work round-the-clock and complete work in next couple of days. According to different motorists interviewed by newsmen, CDA high ups opened the road for traffic in a haste just to add the number of plaques with their names during the days when they are too much uncertain about their fate in future set up.
They said the Authority has also opened signal-free 7th Avenue in the same haste despite several flaws including one the absence of pedestrian bridges on the road. CDA could not foresee the massive traffic flow on the road that is the second main link between the twin cities and aims at providing easy access to the commuters plying between the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
CDA was also claiming that 9th Avenue would be an alternate route for the commuters of the twin cities during the construction of Zero Point Interchange expected shortly.
But poor planning of the road has reversed all tall claims of the Authority. The Authority built three underpasses at H-8/H-9, I-8/I-9 and G-8/G-9 crossings on the avenue to easy traffic flow but could not sense that the traffic flow would never be eased without building underpasses or flyovers at main crossings like Peshawar Mor and IJ Principal Road.
Owing to the huge traffic mess particularly during the peak hours, Islamabad Traffic Police have also directed the road users to avoid approaching 9th Avenue rather use alternate routes.
About eight-kilometer-long 9th Avenue was built at a cost of Rs1.3 billion and was meant to provide second direct link between the twin cities from IJ Principal Road in Rawalpindi to Margalla Road in Islamabad.
Despite the passage of 30 years, the Authority could not build any artery but now it was direly needed when hundreds of thousands vehicles ply between the twin cities on daily basis.
Athar Shah, a motorist, trapped on Jinnah Avenue intersection, commented on the situation saying that traffic mess on the avenue has upturned his expectations as it brought about no change in traffic flow.
He said while driving from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, he faced the same traffic congestion on IJ Principal Road and Peshawar Mor.
Shayan Ahmed, a government official pointed out that much of the chaos witnessed on 9th Avenue also owes it to the absence of directions indicating which roads have been blocked.
The installation of such boards would also save the precious time anf fuel of the motorists particularly during peak hours.
When contacted a CDA official said the traffic congestion is not due to any slackness from the Authority’s end, rather the huge number of the motorists turned up on the road in order to enjoy the smooth driving leading to traffic congestion.
He said the Authority would soon build an interchange on Peshawar Mor. The planning of the project is expected shortly and it would be completed within one and half year.