Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has launched a major infrastructure project to extend Margalla Road and connect it directly with the M-1 motorway, aiming to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity for residents of northern Islamabad.
The development includes the construction of a 2.7-kilometre stretch starting from GT Road (N-5) and leading up to the Sangjani area within Islamabad’s limits. The project will feature a three-lane carriageway on both sides, two-lane service roads, two underpasses, and a bridge.
An interchange at Sangjani on GT Road forms a key component of the plan. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who visited the site on Tuesday, directed that the Sangjani Interchange be completed by July 31 to provide early relief to commuters facing bottlenecks on GT Road.
“This project will provide an alternative, fast and easy route between Islamabad and the motorway,” the minister said, adding that it would significantly reduce travel time and traffic pressure on existing arteries.
At present, Margalla Road terminates near D-12, forcing traffic from sectors F, G, and H to rely on congested routes such as Srinagar Highway and IJP Road to access the motorway. Once completed, the new link will offer direct access to the M-1 for northern parts of the capital, easing pressure on major corridors including Kashmir Highway and 9th Avenue.
The project will be executed in phases. While CDA is undertaking the 2.7-kilometre portion within Islamabad, a 2.5-kilometre extension from the interchange to the motorway will be developed by the Punjab government. Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority (NHA) is already working on the Rawalpindi-side segment, which will connect the route to the M-1 near the AWT Housing Society.
Officials said the overall project is expected to be completed by December 2026, though work on the Sangjani Interchange has been fast-tracked for completion this year. The initiative has long been demanded by residents of areas such as D-12 and E-11, who face heavy traffic during peak hours while commuting to and from the motorway.
According to CDA documents, the full potential of Margalla Avenue can only be realised once it is linked to the motorway. The six-lane road project is expected to serve as a key alternative route for traffic between Islamabad and GT Road, improving overall urban mobility in the capital.
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