Bhara Kahu Bypass Construction to Start in August
Islamabad: Construction work on the much-awaited elevated four-lane Bhara Kahu Bypass will start in August. This was stated by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan while speaking to media persons at his office on Friday.
He said the National Highway Authority (NHA) was the executing agency of the 3.5-km-long project. A consultant has been hired and the design of the flyover is in a final stage and would be completed at the end of this month.
Traffic gridlocks have become a routine in Bhara Kahu area of Murree Road and the special assistant to the prime minister said the flyover would ease the growing congestion. The area faces a lot of traffic especially on the weekends when tourists head towards Murree and Kashmir.
He said the project was the need of the hour not only for Islamabad residents but also for people from Murree and Kashmir.
Consultant hired and design of project will be completed at the end of this month, says PM’s special assistant
The SAPM said in the upcoming fiscal year over one dozen mega development projects would be launched in Islamabad.
Also Read: NHA Building Roads In KP, Specially In Less Developed Areas
“I have got prepared PC-1 of 21 development projects for which we want to get PSDP funding,” he said and added that soon the development of stalled E-12, 1-12 and 1-15 would be started.
Mr Awan said the CDA had been directed to resolve issues of the land affected people on a priority basis.
“It’s an injustice that we acquired their land against peanuts and they have been running from pillar to post for decades to get their claims cleared,” he said.
Mr Awan also criticised compulsory acquisition of land from the locals, saying land should be acquired form the local people on the government rate only for public interest projects such as construction of dams etc.
“The government acquires land from people on its own rate for carving out commercial and residential plots to be sold out in markets against high prices, this is not fair,” he said and added that through legislation this practice would be eliminated.
Talking about the delayed Ghazi Barotha water project, he said a consultant firm was being hired for it. Through the project, Rawalpindi and Islamabad will get 100 million gallons daily (mgd) water.
When his attention was drawn towards the expansion of Islamabad Highway from Koral to GT Road, Mr Awan said the government was seriously pursuing the project and in the first phase the PWD underpass and the Korang bridge would be constructed.
To a question regarding the federal government’s proposal of leasing out the precious land along the highway for starting the expansion work, the special assistant said there was no need for leasing out the land.
“I don’t know, why this idea was floated. We will not go for leasing out the land,” he said.