ISLAMABAD, Jun 23 (APP):Residents, students and traders along Park Road have raised concerns over what they describe as inadequate environmental and safety measures at the site of the ongoing Park Road underpass project, alleging that dust pollution, unsafe traffic diversions and project delays are disrupting daily life and affecting public health. The project, launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in January, was initially scheduled for completion within six months. …
Park Road underpass work draws complaints over dust, diversions, delays
ISLAMABAD, Jun 23 (APP):Residents, students and traders along Park Road have raised concerns over what they describe as inadequate environmental and safety measures at the site of the ongoing Park Road underpass project, alleging that dust pollution, unsafe traffic diversions and project delays are disrupting daily life and affecting public health.
The project, launched by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in January, was initially scheduled for completion within six months. However, residents said construction work appears far from completion, while temporary traffic arrangements have increased travel times and caused difficulties for commuters.
Mukkaram Shah, a resident of the area, said the diversion road constructed to facilitate traffic during the project had itself become a major source of inconvenience.
“The diversion road itself needs a diversion,” he remarked, describing the route as heavily damaged and riddled with potholes that were causing damage to vehicles and increasing travel times.
He said residents were not opposed to development projects but questioned the manner in which the work was being executed.
“Acres of greenery have been removed, a recently completed road has been dug up again, and there seems to be little consideration for environmental protection or public convenience,” he said.
Another resident, Zenia Sohail, said dust generated by construction activity had become a major concern for families living near the site.
“Construction debris and dust are everywhere. Vehicles are being damaged and people are forced to breathe polluted air while sitting in traffic jams for long periods,” she said.
Sohail added that the narrow and uneven diversion routes posed safety risks, particularly for motorcyclists and school-going children.
Students commuting through Park Road said prolonged congestion and poorly managed diversions were affecting their academic routines.
Aamir Aslam, a student at Quaid-i-Azam University, said a journey that previously took around 15 minutes now often exceeded 40 minutes during peak hours.
“Students relying on public transport face significant difficulties reaching classes and examinations on time,” he said.
Asma Zoraiz, a student of a private educational institution, said continuous exposure to dust and traffic congestion had made daily commuting exhausting.
“Students already face academic pressures. Spending additional hours in traffic every week only adds to stress and affects productivity,” she said.
Local businesses have also reported losses due to reduced accessibility.
Rehan Habib, who operates a grocery store on Park Road, said customer footfall had declined considerably since construction work began.
“Many customers avoid the area because of congestion, damaged roads and uncertainty regarding access routes. Our sales have been affected,” he said.
Roadside vendor Mujeeb Ullah said small businesses were bearing the economic burden of delays in the project.
“We understand development projects are necessary, but work should be completed within the announced timeframe. Small traders cannot afford prolonged disruptions,” he said.
Residents further alleged that contractors were not consistently implementing mitigation measures such as regular water sprinkling to suppress dust, safe pedestrian access around construction zones and proper disposal of construction waste.
Responding to the concerns, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) spokesperson told APP that the underpass was a major infrastructure project aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion in the area.
The spokesperson maintained that construction was progressing according to the approved schedule and that temporary inconvenience was unavoidable during large-scale development work.
According to the CDA, contractors have been directed to comply with environmental and safety requirements, including dust suppression measures, installation of safety signage and maintenance of diversion routes.
“Water sprinklers are being used at the site to control dust, while traffic management arrangements are being reviewed regularly,” the spokesperson said, adding that the authority was monitoring the project and taking public feedback into consideration.
Residents, students and traders urged the civic agency to strengthen environmental compliance, improve traffic management and expedite completion of the project to minimise hardships for commuters, nearby communities and businesses.
