ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has requested the National Highway Authority (NHA) for acquisition of land to construct a link road from the motorway to Kashmir Highway.

The civic agency wrote a letter to the NHA for the acquisition of the land citing a cabinet decision made three decades ago.

Through a separate letter, the civic agency also told the NHA that leaseholders of the latter’s land along GT Road were encroaching on the CDA land.

“It is stated that the federal cabinet considered the construction of link road from motorway to Kashmir Highway on July 14, 1997, and approved the proposed outlined in Para-6 thereof and authorised the deviation from the master plan of Islamabad to accommodate the realignment of the link road,” read the CDA letter to the NHA.

Letter sent to NHA for acquisition of land citing a federal cabinet decision made in 1997

It added: “The cabinet directed that the Ministry of Communication should ensure that the right of way up to a distance of 600 feet on either side of the link road should be acquired by the NHA and that they would undertake a construction of underpasses/flyovers and loops on suitable points in conformity with CDA’s requirements.”

The letter said due to non-acquisition of 600 feet and construction of service roads on either side of the proposed link road, illegal constructions had cropped up along service roads which were in fact occurring in the planned right of way of Kashmir Highway.

“It is requested that progress on compliance of the cabinet decision for acquisition of land may be intimated to the civic agency,” said the letter.

Sources said through another letter a couple of weeks ago, the CDA alleged that leaseholders of NHA land had encroached on CDA land along both sides of GT Road from EME College to Nicholson monument.

It said about 3,550 kanals in Mouza Doke Jando, Bhadana Khurd, Sangjani, Sarai Kharbooza, Tarnol and Jhangi Syedan had been acquired by the CDA in Dec 1967.

“This land is lying in the form of strips of 200 feet on either side of GT Road from EME College to Nicholson Monument, Islamabad. No proper boundary pillars have been installed there due to which it is difficult to determine whether it is owned by the CDA, NHA or is private/public,” said the letter.

Taking advantage of the absence of demarcation, encroachments/illegal constructions such as bus stands, petrol pumps/CNG stations, workshops, restaurants, shops, sheds and kiosks have cropped up on both sides of the right of way of GT Road.

“Recently, the CDA in coordination with the ICT administration launched an operation for the retrieval of CDA land and removal of encroachments/illegal constructions. A report in this regard has also been submitted to the Supreme Court.”

During the operation it was observed that the NHA acquired right of way of GT Road at various points/locations was varying on both sides. Since the right of way has not been clearly demarcated on ground it has led to great confusion/difficulty to identify the extent of the land.”

According to the letter, the leaseholders of the NHA land were encroaching on the 200-foot-wide CDA land. A survey in this regard has been conducted by the planning wing in order to identify encroachments on the CDA land.

“The encroachments on CDA land may be removed within three days otherwise these will be removed by the CDA/ICT administration without any further request,” added the letter.

Moreover, all leases of the land given by the NHA should be in accordance with the master plan of Islamabad, ICT (zoning) regulations 1992 and Islamabad Building Regulation 2005 after getting approval from the CDA.

CDA spokesman Syed Safdar Ali said the letters had been sent to the NHA and their replay was awaited.

When contacted, NHA spokesman retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmad said if the CDA land had been encroached upon by NHA leaseholders, the civic agency should conduct an operation to get the land retrieved.

“NHA has nothing to do if CDA’s land is encroached upon by someone. It’s the responsibility of the CDA to get its land retrieved from encroachers. If there is any confusion about demarcation of NHA and CDA land, we will help the CDA for a fresh demarcation. We will also assist the CDA for carrying out an anti-encroachment operation,” he said.

About the other letter regarding the link road, he said: “As far as this letter is concerned, we will respond after reading it.”

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2019