The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Monday ordered an immediate stop to the construction of a flyover on Quetta’s Samungli Road, directing authorities to consider more cost-effective solutions, such as an underpass.
The decision came during a hearing on a constitutional petition against the ongoing project. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Muhammad Najamuddin Mengal, questioned the project’s financial viability after being informed that the flyover’s total cost, including land acquisition, would amount to Rs. 4.2 billion.
In response, the court instructed the project director of the Chief Minister’s Quetta development team to suspend construction activities and explore less expensive alternatives.
“The authorities must consider cost-effective alternatives,” the bench remarked, urging officials to re-evaluate the project scope.
The project director was asked if constructing an underpass would be a workable solution. He sought time to carry out a new survey for a proposed east-west underpass. Accepting the request, the court directed him to prepare a cost comparison between the two options—flyover and underpass—highlighting both land acquisition and construction expenses.
The court also stated that no further work on the flyover should continue until a final decision is made. The hearing was adjourned until May 15.
Another big blunder of Judges. After interfering in the Project, the cost will rise to 10 Billion. These remarks may be taken as an expert of this field.
Is this court job to stop development work, executor must have considered various options with pros and cons… HC should stay focused on thousands of pending cases instead of entertaining every Tom dick Harry wasteful petitions
the court has to inform the administration about cost effectiveness, very despicable.
Court opening a new venue for fovourtism and nepotism… Haftey amounts will be spent on fiesability reports for the construction of an underpass… stopping the construction of the flyover means…all costs incurred will be wasted and if the project is reaffirmed… its construction cost would have risen by millions… according to hike in inflation…