RAWALPINDI: The district government and Murree Road traders could not reach an agreement on fixing of land price as both stuck to their guns.

The traders were conveyed during a meeting with the commissioner and project director Zahid Saeed that the rate of the land to be acquired for metro bus stations will vary from Rs1.7 million to Rs3.2 million per marla.

But the traders’ representatives were adamant to market price of the land which comes to Rs10 million per marla.

Some traders suggested that they should be provided alternative plot where they could rebuild their business. They also proposed to use vacant land in the area.

Commissioner Zahid Saeed told Dawn that the two suggestions of the traders were impractical as they would need to change whole design of the elevated road.

“The land acquisition will be started within few days and the government is interested in providing land price from Rs1.7 million to Rs3.2 million per marla,” he said and added that the compensation money for the structure which will be demolished would also be paid.

The RCCI president, Dr. Shimial Daud Arian, told Dawn that the meeting ended without any producing any result as both parties stuck to their demands.

“Traders wanted market price and government said it was not possible to pay Rs10 million per marla,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2014