The newly-constructed RecepTayyipErdogan Interchange in Sector F-8 has developed faults with one of the link roads collapsing in after heavy rains pummelled the city.
The rain that continued all Wednesday night and stopped only Thursday afternoon played havoc with the much-trumpeted project that was completed in February this year.
On Thursday, the CDA workers could be seen making hectic efforts to repair the visibly caved-in and impassable link road. However, the damage was too obvious to be repaired.
They were trying to repair the road with the help of gravel, asphalt and crushed stones. Heavy machinery could also be seen using different methods to make the road passable, however, it was far from being repaired. The Islamabad Traffic Police had deployed a contingent to re-direct the traffic.
This is not the first time the link road collapsed due to rains, it was in May last too, the road caved in. Not only the link road is caved in, but the green belt has also collapsed. According to the experts, the project was executed in haste only to make claims of a record-time construction.
The pillars of the interchange flyover have also shown signs of decay and Thursday’s rains have further eroded them. If corrective measures are not taken fast, it could cost heavy loss, said the experts.
The Interchange’s poor state has also caught the notice of the parliamentarians and the standing committees of the Senate and the National Assembly have also taken the CDA Chairman to the task on the issue.
The sidewalls of the interchange are also falling apart and there are a number of gaps, ditches appearing in them. This is not something that would be completely repaired overnight it may take months to full repair and recover, said an expert.
If rain continues for a few days, it will further deteriorate said a civil engineer regretting the ad hoc approach of the civic agency in construction of big projects.
The project, worth Rs4.1 billion, has two components — a flyover and an underpass at the junction of Jinnah Avenue and 9th Avenue.
The project included the construction of 4.3 kilometres of roads connected to sector F-10 and the installation of two kilometres of drains for rainwater drainage.
On February 19, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had inaugurated the RecepTayyipErdogan Interchange at Jinnah Avenue.
As per Interior Minister MohsinNaqvi, the project was initially planned for completion in six months. However, the timeline was first shortened to 120 days, then 100 days. The project was finally finished in just 84 days.
