{{Short description|Road from Islamabad to Rawalpindi, Pakistan}} {{Infobox street | name = IJ Principal Road | alternate_name = Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road | native_name = {{nowrap|{{native name|ur|سڑکِ آئی جے پی }}}} | maint = Capital Development Authority | length_km = 10.2 | metro_system = Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus | metro = IJP Station | terminus_a = N-5 National Highway | direction_a = West | terminus_b = Faizabad Interchange | direction_b = East }}
'''Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road''' ({{langx|ur|سڑکِ کرنال شیر خان شہید }}), previously known as the '''IJP Road''' ({{langx|ur|سڑکِ آئی جے پی }}), or the '''Inter-Junction Principal Road''',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mughal |first=Saleh |date=19 September 2020 |title=Potholed IJP Road puts motorists in a jam |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2264676/potholed-ijp-road-puts-motorists-in-a-jam |access-date=6 October 2022 |website=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sangi |first=Ghazanfar |title=IPJ Road Available for Traffic in March 2023 |url=https://www.aurabizz.com/ijp-road-will-be-available-for-traffic-in-march-2023/ |website=Aura News}}</ref> is one of the busiest roads in the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area in Pakistan, connecting Islamabad to Rawalpindi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Abbasi |first=Kashif |date=2021-07-07 |title=CDA set to contract 7th Avenue interchange, I.J.P. Road rehabilitation projects to FWO |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1633604 |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> It also serves as a route for traffic coming from Punjab and Azad Kashmir going towards Taxila, Attock, and onwards to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-01 |title=IJP Road consultant proposes adding two lanes |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2266609/ijp-road-consultant-proposes-adding-two-lanes |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> It is named IJ Principle Road because it is the road that was going to be between the never-built Sector J and Sector I of Islamabad.
It starts at N-5 National Highway in the west and ends at Faizabad Interchange in the east, where it meets the Islamabad Expressway and Murree Road.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Abbasi |first=Kashif |date=2022-05-10 |title=Renovated I.J.P. Road to be ready by April next year |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1688849 |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref> The total length of the road is 10.2 kilometers.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=27 July 2021 |title='CDA to ensure EMP during IJP Road project' |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/869229-cda-to-ensure-emp-during-ijp-road-project |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref>
== Repairs and renovation == Over the years, several potholes had appeared on the road due to the heavy volume of trucks (from the Islamabad wholesale market and Sabzi Mandi) and buses (from the Pirwadhai bus stand) using it.<ref name=":0" /> Regular maintenance and repairs were not carried out in time by the Capital Development Authority.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anwar |first=Shahzad |date=2016-08-20 |title=IJP Road: Rehabilitation work likely to hit a snag |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1166734/ijp-road-rehabilitation-work-likely-hit-snag |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Triple surface treatment repair work was done in 2016–17,<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2021 |title=Reconstruction of IJP Road to cost Rs4.9b: Senate told |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/896379-reconstruction-of-ijp-road-to-cost-rs4-9b-senate-told |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref> but major repairs were still needed.
IN December 2017, the Development Working Party of the Capital Development Authority approved the project concept-II for the uplift of the road. It then launched a tender to hire a consultant who would prepare a rehabilitation plan for the road. Four firms responded to the tender: Zeerak International, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), EA Associates, and ACC Consultants, out of which the former was hired in April 2020. It presented its plan in October 2020, which had an estimated cost of Rs. 5.322 billion.<ref name=":1" />
In 2021, the government launched a plan to rebuild and widen the dual carriageway by adding two additional lanes on either side at a cost of Rs. 4.9 billion,<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=Work on IJP Road being done at fast pace |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/945421-work-on-ijp-road-being-done-at-fast-pace |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref> while Rs. 120 million was earmarked for environmental protection and conservation.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2022/05/10/major-development-work-on-ijp-road-completed-ahead-of-schedule/|title=Major Development Work on IJP Road Completed Ahead of Schedule|first=ProPK|last=Staff|date=May 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Niaz |first=Tahir |date=2021-09-19 |title=CDA officials visit IJP Road, review development work |url=https://nation.com.pk/19-Sep-2021/cda-officials-visit-ijp-road-review-development-work |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The Nation |language=en}}</ref> The renovation project also envisaged two flyovers, two bridges (at Katarian and Pirwadhai),<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 August 2022 |title=First phase of two bridges on IJP Road completed |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/981866-first-phase-of-two-bridges-on-ijp-road-completed |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref> and seven culverts as well.<ref name=":2" /> The National Logistics Cell was awarded the contract for the project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anis |first=Muhammad |date=22 July 2022 |title=CDA all set to complete first phase of IJP Road next month |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/975751-cda-all-set-to-complete-first-phase-of-ijp-road-next-month |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The News International |language=en}}</ref> It is planned to be completed by April 2023.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Orders issued to wrap up work on IJP Road |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2356030/orders-issued-to-wrap-up-work-on-ijp-road |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
==References == {{reflist}}{{Territorial Highways of Islamabad Capital Territory}}{{Roads in Pakistan}}
Category:Roads in Islamabad Capital Territory Category:Transport in Rawalpindi