ISLAMABAD: Punjab’s Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) has sought a record of the controversial Ring Road Project (RRP), falling in the limit of Islamabad, from the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Besides, both Punjab and Islamabad have completed survey for starting the road to link Motorway (M-I) with G.T. Road near Tarnol.

Sources said a few days ago Punjab’s Anti Corruption Establishment had sought record of the Islamabad portion of the ring road project from CDA.

“Yes, we were asked by the anti-corruption department to share correspondence between CDA and the Punjab government and record of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project. Only a small portion of two kilometers of the ring road falls in the limit of Islamabad and on the direction of prime minister we have decided to give this portion of the road to CDA ,” said a CDA board member .

He said that record was being compiled, which would be shared with the department in next few days, he said.

Another officer said that CDA had no role in the controversial project and when Punjab government had sought CDA’s approval for construction of the said project: “We had asked them [the Punjab government] that federal cabinet’s approval is required for this purpose,” the officer said and added that CDA would soon furnish details of correspondence that took place between CDA and the Punjab government and minutes of relevant CDA board meetings,” he said.

Earlier, the Punjab government kept insisting on constructing the two-km-long road falling in Islamabad. But Prime Minister Imran Khan gave the Islamabad portion to CDA in February. Now CDA will acquire land and construct the two kilometer patch of the road.

Work on the project stopped in April after an inquiry was initiated against former commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood and other officials for allegedly changing the alignment of the road apparently to benefit a number of housing societies.

Meanwhile, officials of CDA Dawn spoke to said that road and land survey of a road project to link M-I with G.T. Road near Tarnol has been completed and next month PC-I of the project would be presented to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for approval.

They said the Punjab government and federal government would share the cost of the project of around five kilometer road , which will be executed through CDA. They said that alignment of the project had been made afresh as earlier, it was like a zigzag, but now it is almost straight, officials said.

“Survey of the project and draft PC-I have been completed and next month it will be presented before the CDWP for approval. So hopefully in Sept-Oct work will be started,” an officer of the engineering wing of CDA said.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2021