ISLAMABAD: Plot owners in sector 1-11/2 Islamabad have been waiting for years for construction of 30 streets in the area but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is yet to take action in this regard.

Construction of these streets in this neglected sub-sector has been pending for years without any plausible justification. The CDA had opened tenders for construction of the said streets on Dec 16 last year, however, practical work has not started yet, due to negligence of CDA’s engineering wing.

Plot owners registered multiple complaints on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Citizen Portal as well, but to no avail. “We want to avail the government’s concessionary loan scheme for construction of our houses in Islamabad, but we cannot get possession of our plots till construction of the streets,” a plot owner said, urging CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed to take notice of the issue and help expedite construction of the streets.

Some officials of the CDA say that the project is worth around Rs220 million; the lowest bidder submitted a bid almost 40pc below the estimates and there is also need to check whether the lowest bidder is now trying to disassociate himself from the project.

Another plot owner in I-11/2 requested the CDA chairman to look into it. “It was chairman CDA, who on the request of those who were allotted plots, took personal interest in this project and ordered for announcing tenders to start construction of streets.

On his directive, the tender was called, but construction work has not started yet,” he said and added that people have high hopes from the CDA chairman otherwise they would file a petition in court against CDA.

“The CDA has started development projects across Islamabad, but it is beyond my comprehension as to why it is not constructing the newly created streets in I-11/2,” he said. “I need to build my house after getting a loan from the government, but cannot start construction till the CDA constructs my street,” he added.

When contacted, a CDA director said that the agreement is under acceptance stage and he would look into reasons behind the delay. “I will ensure timely start of work and its timely completion. Let me assure you we will resolve this issue,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2021