24 January 2004	Saturday	01 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: The interior minister has given three months deadline to Capital Development Authority (CDA) to complete work on all under-construction bridges to ease traffic jams and install 80 video cameras at different places to improve security.

"These bridges were to be completed by December 31, 2003, but due to financial constraints, the projects were delayed. Now I have given a deadline of March to the CDA for completion of the projects," Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said at a ceremony after inaugurating Lehtrar Bridge, commonly known as Kak Bridge, here on Friday.

The 18-foot high, 24-foot wide and 51-meter-long bridge was completed at a cost of Rs47 million. "A project has also been prepared to add an additional lane to the Faisal Avenue," he said.

He said the CDA would soon receive outstanding dues of Rs6 billion from the government to complete the incomplete projects. He said the government owed the amount to the authority on account of buildings' maintenance, utility dues and mega projects executed in the federal capital.

He said a summary had been sent to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali regarding early release of the amount. The minister said the authority had been demanding the amount for the last many years. The government has expressed its willingness to pay the dues as soon as possible.

The recovery of the outstanding dues can help the CDA come out of the financial straits, he said. According to a data compiled by the authority, some 42 government departments, including the defunct chief executive secretariat, Wapda, PTCL, Kashmir House, Balochistan House, Sindh House, Punjab House, Frontier House, Foreign Office and Secretariat are defaulters of over Rs1 billion.

Talking about security issues, Mr Hayat said 80 video surveillance cameras would be installed at different locations in the capital, including the main intersections.

"Earlier, these cameras were to be installed at 40 points, but I have issued directives to double this figure for better security-cum-traffic management in the capital," he added.

Islamabad Capital Territory administration, the CDA and the police will select 80 sites for installation of cameras after mutual consultation, the minister said.

Millions of rupees, he said, were spent on different projects, which lacked good finishing. "The CDA should focus on good finishing of all project," he added.

He said fences would be erected along Islamabad Highway to ensure smooth flow of traffic. He also stressed the need for improving the service roads along the highway.