Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road (Urdu: سڑکِ کرنال شیر خان شہید), previously known as the IJP Road (Urdu: سڑکِ آئی جے پی), or the Inter-Junction Principal Road,[1] [2] is one of the busiest roads in the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area in Pakistan, connecting Islamabad to Rawalpindi.[3] It also serves as a route for traffic coming from Punjab and Azad Kashmir going towards Taxila, Attock, and onwards to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[4] It is named IJ Principle Road because it is the road that was going to be between the never-built Sector J and Sector I of Islamabad.
| Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road | |
| Native name | سڑکِ آئی جے پی (Urdu) |
|---|---|
| Maintained by | Capital Development Authority |
| Length | 10.2 km (6.3 mi) |
| Nearest Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus station | IJP Station |
| West end | N-5 National Highway |
| East end | Faizabad Interchange |
It starts at N-5 National Highway in the west and ends at Faizabad Interchange in the east, where it meets the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road.[5] The total length of the road is 10.2 kilometers.[6]
Repairs and renovation
editOver the years, several potholes had appeared on the road due to the heavy volume of trucks (from the Islamabad wholesale market and Sabzi Mandi) and buses (from the Pirwadhai bus stand) using it.[3] Regular maintenance and repairs were not carried out in time by the Capital Development Authority.[7] Triple surface treatment repair work was done in 2016–17,[8] but major repairs were still needed.
IN December 2017, the Development Working Party of the Capital Development Authority approved the project concept-II for the uplift of the road. It then launched a tender to hire a consultant who would prepare a rehabilitation plan for the road. Four firms responded to the tender: Zeerak International, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), EA Associates, and ACC Consultants, out of which the former was hired in April 2020. It presented its plan in October 2020, which had an estimated cost of Rs. 5.322 billion.[4]
In 2021, the government launched a plan to rebuild and widen the dual carriageway by adding two additional lanes on either side at a cost of Rs. 4.9 billion,[9] while Rs. 120 million was earmarked for environmental protection and conservation.[6][10][11] The renovation project also envisaged two flyovers, two bridges (at Katarian and Pirwadhai),[12] and seven culverts as well.[5] The National Logistics Cell was awarded the contract for the project.[13] It is planned to be completed by April 2023.[5][14]
References
edit- ^ Mughal, Saleh (19 September 2020). "Potholed IJP Road puts motorists in a jam". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- ^ Sangi, Ghazanfar. "IPJ Road Available for Traffic in March 2023". Aura News.
- ^ a b Abbasi, Kashif (2021-07-07). "CDA set to contract 7th Avenue interchange, I.J.P. Road rehabilitation projects to FWO". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ a b "IJP Road consultant proposes adding two lanes". The Express Tribune. 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ a b c Abbasi, Kashif (2022-05-10). "Renovated I.J.P. Road to be ready by April next year". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ a b "'CDA to ensure EMP during IJP Road project'". The News International. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ Anwar, Shahzad (2016-08-20). "IJP Road: Rehabilitation work likely to hit a snag". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "Reconstruction of IJP Road to cost Rs4.9b: Senate told". The News International. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "Work on IJP Road being done at fast pace". The News International. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ Staff, ProPK (May 10, 2022). "Major Development Work on IJP Road Completed Ahead of Schedule".
- ^ Niaz, Tahir (2021-09-19). "CDA officials visit IJP Road, review development work". The Nation. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "First phase of two bridges on IJP Road completed". The News International. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ Anis, Muhammad (22 July 2022). "CDA all set to complete first phase of IJP Road next month". The News International. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ "Orders issued to wrap up work on IJP Road". The Express Tribune. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2022-10-06.