ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal on Thursday informed a parliamentary body that cracks in newly-constructed Margalla Avenue developed due to poor compaction work.

“Work on 30 meters to 40 meters patch of the road where cracks have developed was rushed as contractors had roughly three to four days to wrap up work on this stretch, near Shah Allah Dita, after locals threatened to hinder the development work,” Noorul Amin Mengal claimed in a briefing to the Public Accounts Committee.

PAC had summoned the CDA chairman on short notice seeking an explanation after cracks developed on Margalla Avenue before the formal inauguration of the road which connects D-12 with GT Road. In response to an observation from the committee, Noorul Amin Mengal said that a third party validation would be conducted by Nespak to ensure the quality of Margalla Avenue.

The road stretched from the GT Road to D-12 and had been opened for traffic before its formal inauguration as some work, including a 700-metre portion, was still pending.

Earlier, PAC chief Noor Alam Khan observed that cracks that had developed on both sides of the road near the Shah Allah Ditta underpass raised questions about the quality of the construction work. In response to directions from Noor Alam Khan to repair the patch, Chairman CDA, responded the repair works had already started.

Encroachment on footpaths

The PAC members also expressed displeasure over encroachments on footpaths, infringing access of pedestrians. “Start anti-encroachment drives in Kohsar, and other posh markets in F-6 and F-7, where restaurant owners have spread outdoor seating onto footpaths infringing the right of way of pedestrians,” said Noor Alam Khan.

“Restaurant owners should not be allowed to place chairs outdoors before 8pm or 10pm,” Noor Alam Khan suggested. Mr Mengal responded that encroachments had been removed from sidewalks in F-7, F-6 and F-10 Markaz.

In response to another question from a member on failure to deliver on Park Enclave, Noorul Amin Mengal said that in the past CDA priorities included mega projects worth Rs90 billion such as Margalla Avenue, Bhara Kahu by-pass, 7th Avenue, 11th Avenue, Islamabad Expressway, and Rawal dam flyover.

“Development of sectors was not given priority,” he said.

During the meeting, Noorul Amin also apprised lawmakers about the ‘aggressive anti-encroachment drive’ launched by the civic body. “In a few days, the CDA was able to get 1, 600 units vacated by land mafia in sectors C-13, C-14 and C-15 in one of its kind operations. Similarly, some 200 units were demolished in Park Enclave and nearly 50 individuals were arrested and sent to Adiala Jail after due process,” he informed the meeting.

The PAC also asked for a complete list of plots allotted, within the jurisdiction of the civic authority, to presidents, premiers, lawmakers, federal ministers, cabinet members, judges, generals, and bureaucrats.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023