ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board has approved the tentative alignment for a proposed 3.4 km-long road linking the motorway to Margalla Avenue in Islamabad.
The proposal now requires the approval of the federal government, as it involves changes to the master plan of the city.
The road is split between 1.6 km within the limits of Islamabad, to be acquired and developed by the CDA from its own resources, and 1.8km in Rawalpindi, to be constructed by the Punjab government.
However, there has been a disagreement between the CDA (Federal) and RDA (Punjab) for over two years.
The Commissioner of Rawalpindi recently sent a letter to the CDA requesting the final alignment.
CDA engaged its Engineering-in-Chief Branch to prepare the alignment and has conveyed a tentative design, which was approved by the board.
The Planning Wing of the CDA also recommended engaging the National Highway Authority (NHA) instead of the RDA for the land acquisition, as both are federal entities.
A final decision on this matter will be taken by the federal government.
CDA is currently constructing a portion of Margalla Avenue and the link road will eventually connect it with the M-1 motorway.
A discussion was held to change the alignment to avoid a nearby housing society, but the approved alignment was ultimately decided upon.
The board could not take up the summary for the recently auctioned residential and commercial plots, which will be discussed in the next board meeting.
What is the actual alignment. Anyone can share the map?
Good initiative for public facilitation. however, the section of the public affected in acquisition of land/residences should be fairly compensated at commercial rates in view of their location and the project being conceived out of the original Master Plan.