Islamabad’s proposed cricket stadium near Sector D-12 will accommodate more than 35,000 spectators, according to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The three-tier structure will stand over 25 meters tall at the foothills of the Margalla Hills.
The stadium project is expected to move ahead within days. The CDA and the contractor have resolved a dispute over the bid rate, while the approach road from Margalla Road to the site has been completed.
The first phase will cover construction of the stadium and around three kilometers of roads. In the second phase, the CDA will carry out landscaping and electrical work, and prepare the playing field, including the pitches.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials recently told Dawn that they hoped to make the stadium fully operational before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028. The board wants to host some of the tournament’s matches at the venue.
The CDA chose the location near Sector D-12 after also considering a site near Malpur in Zone I.
The selected site falls within Zone III, where construction is generally prohibited and local landowners cannot build houses on their land. However, the CDA maintains that sports and recreational facilities are allowed in the area, and that the stadium qualifies as permitted construction.
A previous PCB stadium project at Shakarparian was abandoned after the Supreme Court issued directions. The PCB had begun construction there on land provided by the CDA. This time, the civic agency will build the stadium itself.
Before the project could move forward, the CDA and the construction firm had to settle a disagreement over the bid rate.
Sources said the CDA sought a rebate before the groundbreaking. The contractor argued that it had submitted its bid in March and that diesel, petrol and other costs had risen since then. It said those increases left no basis for reducing the quoted rate.
The project’s PC-I was estimated at Rs. 11.9 billion. The Habib-ZKB-EA joint venture submitted the lowest bid of Rs. 8.9 billion. The two sides have now agreed to a Rs. 400 million rebate, sources said.
via: Dawn
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