ISLAMABAD — Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi performed the groundbreaking for the expansion of Ataturk Avenue on Tuesday, marking the launch of another road project by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). However, the move has drawn sharp focus to the stalled 10th Avenue project, a Rs10.2 billion federal undertaking that has been largely abandoned due to a complete halt in government funding.
اہم ٹریفک ایڈوائزری
تعمیراتی کام کے حوالے سے اتاترک ایونیو پر ایکسپریس چوک سے ایوب چوک (آغا خان روڈ) تک ڈائیورشن ہوگی۔
ڈائیورشن پلان بتاریخ 31 مارچ 2026 سے پروجیکٹ کے مکمل ہونے تک نافذ العمل رہے گا۔
اتاترک ایونیو ایکسپریس چوک سے لے کر ایوب چوک تک ٹریفک کی آمدورفت کے لیے بند… pic.twitter.com/wBkti0luHa
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 31, 2026
Key Highlights
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New Project: A Rs241 million scheme to dualize Ataturk Avenue from Jinnah Avenue to Ayub Chowk; completion is expected within two months.
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10th Avenue Crisis: The mega project, initiated in 2022, is now facing potential structural decay after the federal government made zero allocations for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
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Funding Gap: Out of the total Rs10.2 billion cost, only Rs4.2 billion has been released and spent to date.
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Missed Deadlines: Originally slated for completion in March 2024, the project recently saw its deadline extended to mid-2026, though no work is currently active on-site.
Ataturk Avenue: A Quick Fix
The newly launched expansion of Ataturk Avenue is a relatively small-scale project aimed at easing traffic flow near the city’s sensitive “Red Zone” and government offices. Minister Naqvi, accompanied by State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry, directed the CDA to ensure rapid completion without compromising quality.
While this project is being funded through the CDA’s own resources, officials note that it is incomparable to the scale of the 10th Avenue arterial road, which remains the city’s most significant unfinished infrastructure “wound.”
The 10th Avenue “Gravel Yard”
The 10th Avenue project was designed to be a major north-south artery similar to 9th Avenue. Currently, the project sits as a graveyard of unfinished infrastructure:
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Current Status: Earthwork from I.J.P. Road to H-9 is complete, and five overhead bridges have been constructed.
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The Risks: Without asphalt work and protective measures, the existing earthwork and concrete structures are at risk of erosion and decay.
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Contractor Status: The National Logistics Cell (NLC) has received a six-month extension, but cannot mobilize further without the release of federal funds.
Policy Debate: CDA Self-Funding vs. Federal Delays
Over the last two years, the CDA has successfully used its own revenue to complete several multi-billion rupee projects, including the Serena Interchange and Murree Road underpass. This has led some officials to suggest that the CDA should take over the funding of 10th Avenue itself rather than waiting for a cash-strapped federal government.
“Leaving this project unattended is not a solution,” a CDA official remarked on the condition of anonymity. “From I.J.P. to H-9, the foundation is ready. Asphalt work should be carried out immediately to save the investment already made.”
CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani confirmed that the authority has taken up the issue with the federal government, emphasizing that maintaining momentum is critical to avoiding further cost escalations.
As Islamabad’s traffic volume grows, the disparity between small, rapid “beautification” projects and the stagnation of vital transport corridors continues to be a point of contention for the city’s residents.
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