CDA Unveils Blue Area-Style Commercial Corridor Project on Islamabad Expressway
Rs7.4bn infrastructure project to upgrade 9-km service road into six-lane corridor, with commercial plot auctions planned to drive economic growth.
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is set to transform the eastern service road of the Islamabad Expressway into a modern commercial corridor, combining major road infrastructure upgrades with the development of a Blue Area-style business district.
Road Infrastructure Upgrade
Under the proposed project, the existing service road will be reconstructed into a six-lane dual carriageway spanning approximately nine kilometres from Faizabad Interchange to the Gulberg Greens stop. The project is aimed at improving traffic flow while creating a new commercial zone along one of the capital’s busiest corridors.
Speaking at the project’s inauguration, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the initiative would improve traffic flow on the Islamabad Expressway, reduce congestion and facilitate thousands of daily commuters travelling between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He also directed the CDA to complete the project on a fast-track basis while ensuring quality standards.
The infrastructure plan includes the construction of a dedicated flyover at Faizabad to connect the service road with Murree Road, as well as an underpass at the Lehtrar Road–Khanna Pul intersection to provide signal-free traffic movement.
Blue Area-Style Commercial District
Alongside the road expansion, the CDA plans to designate a commercial strip modelled after Islamabad’s Blue Area. The proposed business district is expected to accommodate high-rise office towers, corporate headquarters, shopping malls, banks and other commercial developments.
Project Cost and Funding
According to the project’s approved PC-I, the estimated infrastructure cost stands at Rs7.4 billion. However, following competitive bidding, the lowest construction bid was reported to be approximately 13 per cent below the original estimate, reducing the anticipated cost of the road works.
The road infrastructure will be financed through public funds, while the commercial buildings will be developed by private investors. The CDA plans to auction premium commercial plots, expecting the initiative to generate substantial revenue for future development projects in the federal capital.
Expected Impact
Officials expect the project to reduce congestion on the Islamabad Expressway by separating local and through traffic while improving connectivity for nearby residential areas, including Ghouri Town, Khanna, Korang and Soan, and supporting long-term commercial and economic growth.
