Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to carry out expansion work of Ataturk Avenue till Jinnah Avenue instead of the originally planned Ayub Chowk after the climate ministry objected to CDA’s move due to environmental concerns, a news source reported.

CDA, as part of the initial construction, had felled over 140 trees, including pine trees that grew over a period of a decade. The overall expansion would have resulted in CDA chopping 50 more trees. Following latest orders from the ministry, the civic agency will expand 1.7km instead of the planned 2.km at a revised cost of PKR 70 million.

Adviser on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam had also expressed concerns regarding the felling of tress during his visit to the construction site. A CDA spokesperson said the civic agency has decided to reduce the scope of the project and will now expand the avenue till D-Chowk.

CDA is mulling spending the funds saved from almost reducing the work by 45% on the rehabilitation and re-carpeting of a portion of Khayaban-i-Suharwardi.