ISLAMABAD: City managers on Wednesday approved the revised alignment of the proposed Margalla Road’s portion known as Bhara Kahu bypass.

Sources said the Army’s Engineer-in-Chief (E&C) branch gave a presentation to officials of the civic agency at the CDA headquarters on the proposed alignment of the 7.4km Bhara Kahu bypass road, which is part of the Margalla Road project.

Sources said earlier an alignment was prepared by the E&C branch -hired by the CDA -but the civic agency did not agree with it as a portion of the alignment fell in private land near Kot Hatyal.

The sources said presentation on the revised alignment was then given to the CDA team, headed by its chairman, Amer Ali Ahmed, and comprising members of the engineering and planning directorates as well as other officials.

“Actually, the first alignment was around 2km short, but we had to acquire land and pay compensation to people for their built-up property. Therefore, to avoid new acquisition and subsequent litigation, we opted for revised alignment, which is 2km longer but it passes through state land,” a source said.

Under the revised alignment, the road will be constructed on state land right from its starting point near Quaid-i-Azam University till Satra Meel. “Today, we approved the revised alignment in the meeting and gave a go-ahead to the E&C branch,” said an officer of the CDA on condition of anonymity.

He said after detailed designing of the project, a PC-I would be finalised and then the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) would start construction work. It is relevant to note here that Margalla Road, as per the capital’s master plan, starts from Sangjani area/G.T. Road and after passing through the foothills of Margalla Hills, culminates on Murree Road near Bhara Kahu.

A few months ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the ground-breaking of the project and asked the CDA to execute the project. The CDA engaged Frontier Works Organisation for this project as several defence installations fell near the alignment of the road.

At present, the FWO is constructing around 10km portion from G.T. Road/Sangjani, which will end in D-12, from where it will be linked to Khayaban-i-Iqbal right up to the edge of Constitution Avenue.

From the edge of Constitution Avenue, the civic body will get it constructed from near Quaid-i-Azam University till Satra Meel.

Sources said after construction of the first portion from Sanjani, the CDA will ask FWO to start work on the last portion from QAU to Satra Meel to provide a bypass road to residents of Murree and Kashmir as well as tourists. “Except the bypass road, there is no alternative solution to reduce growing traffic mess from Murree Road near Bhara Kahu, so we are fully focusing on this bypass road,” an officer of CDA said.

The sources said around 20pc work on the first portion in Sangjani area has already been completed by the FWO. They said the PTI government, which started this project, wants to see at least two portions (first and last) completed before their five-year term ends.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2021