KARACHI: Railways defy KBCA to build officers’ club
By Bhagwandas
KARACHI, Nov 18: A tug of war continues between the Pakistan Railways (PR) and the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) over the construction of an officers’ club being carried out by the railways, which has refused to follow the authority’s directives regarding the construction, it has been reliably learnt. The work continues despite clear orders of the KBCA to stop it immediately.
According to sources, the railways is constructing a club house for its officers at the crossing of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and Hoshang Road in the Civil Lines without getting its building plans approved by the KBCA. When the KBCA approached the railways, the PR rejected the authority’s jurisdiction saying it was competent enough to carry out the construction on its land without getting anybody’s approval, permission or NOC.
The sources said that the railways club building has been designed by the NED University of Engineering and Technology’s architecture and planning department, which itself is facing trouble in carrying out restoration/construction work at its old city campus building without obtaining the mandatory NOC/approvals from the relevant departments. The old campus is protected under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Protection Act.
The KBCA’s Saddar Town Controller Agha Maqsood Abbas had written a letter to the railways on the subject “Construction of railways officers’ club near railways officers’ bungalows, Civil Lines, Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar Town.
In the letter the KBCA had said that the railways was carrying out the construction without approval of the building plan, and that it was being carried out without supervision of the licensed architect as well as engineer and that the construction was within the chamfered position of the crossing of Abdullah Haroon Road and Hoshang Road.
The KBCA had directed the railways to “Therefore stop the construction forthwith and obtain (the) necessary NOC/approval prior to raising further construction.”
The railways rejected the KBCA’s directive and continued to carry out the construction. In its response to the KBCA directive the Divisional Superintendent of the Pakistan Railways, Mir Mohammad Khaskheli, said that the PR was empowered to carry out construction on its lands without any permission from any outside agency.
In his response to the KBCA the local chief of the railways (referring to the KBCA’s letter No KBCA/DCB-1 (Saddar Town)/UA/2007/152 dated Aug 7, 2007) has said, “In reference to your letter on the above subject, it is intimated that as per para 19.12 of the Railways Engineering Code, the Railways Club Karachi was planned and designed by the department of architecture and planning of the NED University of Engineering and Technology in accordance with the available railways land at Hoshang Road, Karachi.
Interference ‘vehemently rejected’
“The show cause notice served under your above referred letter is vehemently rejected. Your observations and the substances provided in the aforesaid letter are absolutely incorrect and have no substantial ground. Factual and para-wise comments are offered as under.
“1. As per PWR Way & Works Manual para 29.1, Pakistan Railways, under Section 7 of the Railways Act No IV read in conjunction with Section 291 of the Cantonments Act No III of 1924, has been provided the right to erect buildings on their own land without obtaining approval of the municipal or cantonment authorities in whose areas the site may fall.
“2. Pakistan Railways has its setup of competent engineers who are competent enough to supervise engineering structures of any sort.
“3. In 1990, Pakistan Railways had already extended cooperation with the KDA by providing space on both Abdullah Haroon Road and Hoshang Road and provided 25 feet extension; Pakistan Railways is unable to provide more space.
“Besides all above, the existing structure of the Clifton Flyover (Irani Bridge) is aligned in accordance with the existing road arrangements of Hoshang Road. Further extension of Hoshang Road will necessitate (the dismantling of) the columns provided under the takeoff point of the said flyover. Hence, it is practically not possible to extend/expand the Hoshang Road.
“(With the) foregoing in view, it is hoped that the KBCA will understand the railways’ position. Accordingly, any interference/hindrance in construction being made by the Pakistan Railways on its own land will be unlawful and (a) straight violation of the aforementioned acts,” concluded Mr Khaskheli.
