ISLAMABAD: The residents of Shah Allah Ditta and adjoining areas have demanded access to Margalla Road as after construction of the road their movement has, to some extent, been restricted.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has completed the 10-km-long Margalla Road from GT Road to D-12 and opened it for public. In this entire section, only one underpass has been built at Shah Allah Ditta but there is no proper service road. This has created hardship for people living in various villages adjacent to Shah Allah Ditta.

The villages on private land include Dhoke Rajgan, Sangjani, Dhoke Labana, Jori Rajgan and Shah Allah Ditta. But, the residents of these villages have no access to the newly-built road and even there is no proper service road. Now they also can’t go across the road where their relatives live in various villages.

Meanwhile, from GT Road to D-12 side on right side of the road, there are four planned residential sectors - C-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16. However, while constructing the road, no underpass was built in front of these sectors. Only one underpass in Shah Allah Ditta has been built to keep the old link between D-12 road and Shah Allah Ditta road.

CDA not heeding to our request to resolve issue, says ex-deputy mayor

“After construction of this road, our area has been divided into two parts. The CDA should have provided either direct links to people on Margalla Road or at least construct some underpasses. But no heed is being paid to this issue,” said Adnan Khan, the resident of a village.

On the other hand, he added, the CDA had slowed down work in front of a couple of housing societies near D-12 and there were chances the residents of these societies will be provided direct access to Margalla Road despite opposition from the CDA planning wing.

“We have nothing to do with the housing societies if CDA wants to provide them access, but we request the civic agency not to deprive us of the basic facility,” he said.

Former Deputy Mayor Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, who is a resident of Shah Allah Ditta, said he along with a delegation had held several meetings with CDA officials, requesting them to provide access to residents of the old villages, but they were not paying any heed to the issue.

He said in Shah Allah Ditta, there was an underpass and by constructing two loops the CDA could help resolve the issue.

He said they had also submitted an application to the CDA but to no avail.

Meanwhile, an official of the CDA said local people should be provided access on both Margalla Road and Bhara Kahu bypass.

He said there were five underpasses in Bhara Kahu bypass and at least one of them should have loops to provide access to the locals.

When contacted, an officer of the CDA, requesting not to be named, said the civic agency will look into the issue of the residents of Shah Allah Ditta and adjoining areas.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2023