ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has requested the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to observe 1,200-foot-wide right of way while granting planning permission for projects along Kashmir Highway.

The planning wing of the CDA a few days ago wrote to the RDA, requesting it to observe 1,200 feet right of way along Kashmir Highway that falls in its limits.

“It is requested that 1,200 feet wide planned right of way of Kashmir Highway may be observed while granting planning permissions/approval of projects along Kashmir Highway in RDA jurisdiction,” read the letter addressed to the RDA director general.

From Club Road/Murree Road up to GT Road, Kashmir Highway falls in the limits of CDA and from there onwards it comes under the jurisdiction of RDA.

Kashmir Highway stretches almost up to GT Road where a link road leads to the motorway.

When asked about the intention of the letter to the RDA, which is a civic agency of the Punjab government, a CDA official said: “We cannot direct RDA to apply our rules in its jurisdiction rather we can request it for it. The purpose of the letter is just to sensitise the RDA that the right of way of Kashmir Highway in CDA jurisdiction is 1200 ft.”

The official said it was up to RDA to follow the policy. But if the RDA does not observe the limit of right of way, there will be issues for widening of the existing link roads in future.

When contacted, RDA spokesperson Mohammad Irfan confirmed that they had received a letter from the CDA and would respond to it in a few days.

The CDA recently also requested the National Highway Authority (NHA) to acquire land for construction of service roads on either side of the road that links the motorway.

“It has been observed that due to non-acquisition of 600 feet land and construction of service roads on either side of the link road,

illegal constructions have cropped up along service roads which are in fact occurring in the planned right of way of Kashmir Highway (1,200 feet).”

The CDA letter said as per a federal cabinet’s decision the NHA was supposed to ensure that right of way up to 600 feet on either side of the link road was acquired by it.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2019