ISLAMABAD: City managers on Wednesday revised PC-I and scope of Farash Town apartments scheme launched last year for the low income group and renamed it ‘Nilore Heights’ with high-end proposed apartments.

The CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) meeting, which was presided over by CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed, approved the revised PC-I of the scheme, increasing its cost from Rs15 billion to Rs31 billion.

According to the earlier PC-I, there were 3,960 proposed flats, out of whom 400 were for residents of slums, 2,000 for Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority and 1,560 for the CDA to sell them in the open market.

Under the revised PC-I, it has now been proposed that the scheme will have 4,276 apartments and the CDA 1,876, which will be built as luxury apartments for sale in the market.

Cost raised from Rs15bn to Rs31bn; Islamabad bus service project approved

The CDA is also planning to move a summary to the federal cabinet seeking end to the civic agency’s deal with Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority, as it has still not deposited the initial amount with the CDA.

The CDA officials said if the cabinet allowed the civic body to end its deal with the Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority, it will then construct 3,876 apartments to sell them in the open market.

They said the project was started last year and now the entire project would be completed by August 2024.

Similarly, the CDA-DWP also approved Islamabad bus service project for the entire city. The proposed project will cost Rs7,240.62 million.

According to its PC-I, the project will help fulfill future travel needs in Islamabad as eight different routes have been approved.

Moreover, the meeting also gave its consent to the PC-I of the Margalla Hill Sanctuary Park after addressing reservations of the Planning Commission.

The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) for the protection and preservation of flora and fauna. It will be managed by the IWMB.

The meeting also approved PC-II for hiring consultants to set up Capital Medical College in the Capital Hospital. Similarly, plan for the development and implementation of e-bidding in the CDA was also approved.

The DWP also approved road rehabilitation and widening project from Pinstech Gate No. 1 to Gate No 3 on Lehtrar Road.

Meanwhile, CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed visited 7th Avenue and Rawal Dam Interchange projects on Wednesday where he was briefed about the ongoing work.

He was told that 7th Avenue interchange project had entered the completion stage and in a few days the underpass constructed on Khayaban-i-Suhrawardi would be completed.

The chairman also visited the Rawal Dam Interchange project.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022