ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to avoid possible traffic congestion on revenue roads, the city managers are considering a proposal to ban further construction within 50 feet along these roads.

There are several old revenue roads in Islamabad which are hardly 20 to 30 feet wide.

However, large-scale construction has already taken place at the length of these roads, squeezing them and ultimately causing traffic congestion.

Such roads include Darwala Road, Bhimber-Lehtrar Road, Simly Dam Road, Japan Road and Malot Road. Officials in the CDA said there are two types of roads: CDA-owned roads and the old revenue roads, which are located in rural areas, particularly in Zone IV and IV.

The officials said with the expansion of the city investors and developers had been focusing on these areas and more and more apartment projects and housing societies were being developed in these areas.

Many roads in rural areas are already squeezed due to large-scale construction, says official

The officials said if this trend continued, in future these revenue roads will face massive congestion.

They said there are two proposals under considerations - acquisition of land to make these roads 100 feet wide and banning any new construction within 50 feet along the roads.

They said practically acquiring land to widen right of way of these roads was highly difficult, as large scale construction had already taken place and CDA will have to pay billions of rupees against the built-up property and land.

Therefore, the officials said the proposal of not allowing new construction within 50 feet seemed practical as by doing so at least these roads will not face more narrowing in future.

A couple of years ago, a commission formed by the federal government to revise Islamabad’s master plan had proposed that the CDA should acquire land to make all revenue roads 100 feet wide. However, sources in the civic agency said no work had been carried out to acquire land for widening of the roads because of massive construction at their lengths. On the other hand, the construction has been taking place unabated.

The officials said that now the matter will be placed before the CDA board to decide if it should go for land acquisition or ban new construction within 50 feet of the roads.

CDA’s planning wing has prepared a summary in this regard which will be taken up by the board in its upcoming meeting likely to be held in the next a couple of days. The board was scheduled to meet on Friday, but due to a meeting at the Prime Minister Office it could not be held, said sources.

“We are cognizant of the shrinking space of revenue roads. Frankly speaking, this issue should have been decided two decades back when there was very less construction along these roads. Anyhow, we will make a decision on it soon,” said a senior officer of the CDA.

He said both the options – acquisition of land and controlling construction – will be discussed before taking a final decision.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2022