ISLAMABAD: After being admonished by the Supreme Court, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has accelerated its anti-encroachment operations and removed structures from the right-of-ways of various roads on Thursday.

The authority said that operations were carried out simultaneously across the city, including in Blue Area and on Nazimuddin Road, G.T. Road and Margalla Road.

The CDA said that the operations demolished several barriers, guards’ rooms, entry gates, iron grills, electricity generators and other encroachments installed on right-of-ways or beyond plot boundaries.

Spokesperson Safdar Ali said teams carried out an operation along Nazimuddin Road and razed various structures.

Drop down barriers, entry gates, guards’ rooms, security cabins, parking sheds, outer iron grills and other illegal installations were removed or demolished from in front of Ufone Tower, the Islamabad Stock Exchange, Saudi Pak Tower, the under-construction State Life building, SME bank, Beverly Centre, Green Tower, UBL, NICL and OGDCL.

He said another operation was conducted along Margalla Road in F-6 and F-7 during which 25 illegally constructed security cabins and two generators installed outside plot boundaries were removed.

In another operation along Margalla Road F-10, he said, 10 security cabins, eight gates, five generators, 15 road blockers, 16 supporting walls, 20 iron grills, 10 lawns and 25 illegally installed fences were removed.

An illegal bus stand was demolished in Chungi No. 26, along the G.T. Road.

Sources in the CDA said a massive operation will also be held soon along I.J. Principal Road where a significant portion of CDA land is under illegal possession.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2019