News
CDA Prepares Rs8.9bn Cricket Stadium Near D-12 Islamabad
By Mariam Khan
Real Estate Analyst
3 min read
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is preparing to break ground on a proposed 35,000-seat cricket stadium near Sector D-12, at the foothills of the Margalla Hills. The project has received an Rs8.9 billion construction bid, made up of Rs5.8 billion for the stadium structure and Rs3.1 billion for external works, including about three kilometres of connecting roads. CDA has begun preparing an approach road, and officials expect groundbreaking within days. The project remains subject to a final go-ahead.
Why Groundbreaking Is Still Subject to a Final Go-Ahead
Preparing an approach road is a preliminary step and does not mean that construction has been approved. The reports say groundbreaking is expected within days but also that the project awaits a final go-ahead. We reported earlier that CDA had not finalised the stadium bid and had asked its consultant to assess whether Rs8.9 billion was reasonable. The latest report does not say whether that assessment has been completed or what it concluded.
Why the Rs8.9bn Breaks Down Into Two Parts
The bid comprises Rs5.8 billion for the stadium structure and Rs3.1 billion for external works, which add up to Rs8.9 billion. External works, including roughly three kilometres of connecting roads, account for about 35 percent of the total (our own calculation). The reports do not say who the bidder is or give a construction period.
Why Zone III Makes the Regulatory Status Important
The site is in Zone III, where construction restrictions apply. In our earlier report we noted that CDA's rules generally prohibit construction in this zone, and that the authority maintains sports and recreational facilities fall outside the general prohibition. Whether that interpretation will be formally documented, and whether it will be challenged, is not addressed in the latest reports. Given that the site is at the foothills of the Margalla Hills, the approvals attached to the project are what matter most.
Why This Is Part of a Wider Set of CDA Projects
The stadium sits among several large projects CDA has been pursuing. We covered the plan to launch the Kashmir Chowk Underpass and four other projects, in which the cricket stadium was named, and more recently the foundation stone of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass. Margalla-area tourism is also under development, as in our report on the Margalla zipline.
What This Means for Owners and Residents Near D-12 and Margalla Road
The stadium and its connecting roads could improve accessibility and commercial activity around D-12 and Margalla Road, but the location's zoning restrictions remain an important consideration. Owners and residents should expect construction activity and traffic once work starts, and should not assume a change in land use around the site. The signals to watch are the final go-ahead, the outcome of the cost review, and any statements on the approvals required for building in Zone III. Updates are published by the CDA.