ISLAMABAD: The engineering wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has directed the Frontier Work Organisation (FWO) to ensure construction of Margalla Road near D-12 as per the approved drawing issued by the civic agency to avoid any access to unauthorised housing societies.

Through a letter dated August 12, the engineering wing asked the FWO, the contractor, to construct the road along D-12/3 as per the original drawing and design. The letter said any access or crossing structure to illegal housing societies is not allowed as per available project drawing of the CDA.

“The actual road profile at the reach be followed strictly and any modification carried out should be restored to actual position/profile as per the issued design without further delay,” read the letter.

Sources said after knowing that operators of some illegal housing societies were trying to get direct access from Margalla Road, the engineering wing as a precautionary measure informed the contractor not to listen to anyone and construct the road as per the original plan.

The north of D-12/3, where some people want to get direct access, falls in the limits of Zone III where housing societies and new houses are prohibited as per the zoning regulations 1992.

According to CDA’s website, there are seven illegal housing societies in Zone III - Al Rayan Society, Ali Town, Arcadia City, Green Hills, Green Meadows North Ridge and Major Makhdoom Society.

The sources said two of them fall in the said area - north of D-12 - whose operators wanted to get access from Margalla Road.

These two societies are using direct access from CDA’s land near D-12 and on several occasions the civic agency took action and blocked the unmetalled road, which was later reopened.

The planning wing has already turned down a request for providing direct access to the societies whereas the road directorate is also pleading that the highway should be constructed as per the original approved plan. However, sources said two CDA officers wanted a “soft” approach to giving direct access to the societies through an underpass.

“We are supposed to provide direct access to old villages that fall along the road such as Shah Allah Ditta, which is centuries-old while the area north of D-12 falls in Zone III where housing societies could not operate. Therefore, we cannot provide them access for their commercial ventures,” said an official of the CDA.

Meanwhile, the construction of Margalla Road from G.T. Road to D-12 is in progress and so far almost 80pc of work, including carpeting, has been carried out.

The sources said the remaining work would be completed in a few months.

In June this year, after making a revision in the scope of work, the CDA extended the contract for six months.

CDA officials said work was going on in full swing and was likely to be completed before December. They said the issue of a graveyard that falls in the alignment of the road near Shah Allah Ditta had also been decided. The road will now be tilted towards the north side to avoid the graveyard.

When contacted, CDA’s spokesperson Syed Asif Raza said no decision had been made for providing access to unauthorised housing schemes from Margalla Road, he said.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2022