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The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board has agreed to slightly move Margalla Road near Shah Allah Ditta to save a graveyard that is over 100 years old.

According to the authority, the board has decided to move the road to the south side and keep C-13 and D-12 for the protection of the graveyard. Phase I of Margalla Road which stretches from GT Road to D-12 is almost being built. Over 70% of the work has already been done. But the graveyard in the region has caused difficulties for the contractor, Frontier Work Organisation (FWO).

Chairman CDA Amer Ali Ahmed presided over the board meeting where the realignment was approved and the member estate was said to begin the process of compensating those whose houses will fall in the new alignment.

Before, the CDA will build a tunnel or a flyover to get around the cemetery.

The portion of the road between G.T. Road and D-12 will be linked to Khayaban-i-Iqbal after an interchange and a small section of 11th Avenue is built.

Under Islamabad’s master plan, the 33-kilometer-long Margalla Road is to be built, which goes from G.T. Road to Bhara Kahu. The CDA has decided to build it in three stages.

Moreover, the CDA plans that two phases will be developed this year and the third will be constructed in the future in case of necessity.

Work is in progress on the first phase i.e. from G.T. Road to D-12, and as per the officials, it will be done by September of this year.

Meanwhile, in the second phase, an 8-kilometer-long Bhara Kahu bypass will be constructed from Murree Road near Quaid-i-Azam University to Satra Meel. However, no real progress has been seen in the second phase as the CDA has not yet approved its PC-I.

Sources said that the Bhara Kau bypass was also discussed at the board meeting, and the panel announced that Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) will be given the land in exchange for the land that will be taken up by the bypass road.