ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Friday directed the concerned directorate to remove encroachments in the stalled I-15 to pave way for its development.

Presided over by the new CDA chairman, Ishrat Ali, the board discussed the issues that have been hampering the development of I-15. Sources said that during the meeting, the board was informed that there is encroachment on 10pc of the land, where people have constructed houses.

The board was told that there are also issues in consultancy service for the sector. All concerned formations were directed to resolve these two issues on priority basis so that development work can start as the CDA has already allocated Rs1 billion for the development of the sector in the budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.

The sector was launched in 2005 for the middle and lower middle classes but development work could not be started since, largely due to negligence of the civic agency.

Some 10,289 people were allotted plots in the sector and they have exhausted all efforts to push the CDA to start development work.

The board wants to pave way for development of the sector launched in 2005

The PC-I of the said sector was approved in 2003 with a cost of Rs2.9 billion and was later revised to Rs8.4 billion.

According to the initial plan, CDA was to develop 5,600 plots and construct 8,000 flats. The authority later cancelled the idea of flats and decided to allot plots to people who had invested in apartments.

People have collectively invested Rs5 billion in the sector and are still waiting for development work to start.

“During the board meeting today, the issue of I-15 was discussed in detail and the board wants to start work on the sector as soon as possible,” a board member told Dawn.

There are over one dozen stalled sectors in the capital and CDA officials say the new chairman should also focus on them.

Meanwhile, the CDA board also recommended the re-employment of Member Planning Asad Mehboob Kayani, who is to retire on July 22 this year.

Appreciating Mr Kayani’s services, the board recommended his case for re-employment. A board member said the case will be forwarded to the federal government for consideration.

Published in Dawn, July 07th, 2018