Authorities of the Capital are planning to make the busiest route of the city signal-free and would be going to construct three underpasses or interchanges. Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CDA mentioned with the news that the government has decided to make the Srinagar Highway signals free. He added that Asad Umar, the planning Minister will be soon going to chair a meeting with CDA to get a briefing from CDA on this project. CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed also added that CDA is also searching to construct three interchanges. If underpasses will ease traffic congestion, then the civic agency will go for constructing the underpasses, which are far cheaper than interchanges and remaining funds could be utilized on a public bus service project.
Implementing this proposal will solve the traffic jams that would eventually save seven billion rupees that could have been well spent on the construction of flyovers and interchanges. More than 1,15, 000 vehicles would exit and enter Islamabad while all foreign delegates could travel on the signal-free road. The project would also save 1,00, 000 hours of travel time while a safe road environment would also be ensured through it. Three protective U-turns have been named G-9/G-10 Protective U-turn, Police Lines Protective U-turn, and G-12 Protective U-turn. SSP Traffic Rai Mazhar Iqbal said that this plan was completed and accomplished within a minimum time of 15 days. Through this proposal, Rs. 7.5 billion public money has been saved which is required for the construction of four over-head bridges. All foreign guests and dignitaries would move to and for the airport on the road thus Signal free corridor would promote Pakistan’s International Image, he said adding, the duration of travel to Islamabad International Airport would reduce to half through this initiative.