ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started construction work on the flyover section of Bhara Kahu bypass project.

The CDA’s contractor, National Logistics Cell (NLC) has started piling work (underground pillars) of the one kilometre flyover project, which is part of the Bhara Kahu bypass road.

Officials of the civic body’s engineering wing said around 275 piles would be fixed in the flyover portion.

They said during construction work, motorists could face more traffic congestion as the existing Murree Road was two lane and inadequate to accommodate the traffic load. However, officials said utmost effort would be made to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

The total length of the bypass road is 5.33km – 4km is grade road and 1.33km is elevated (flyover). Currently, except the area of Quaid-i-Azam (QAU) University, work on the project was continuing with full pace. The QAU portion has been suspended after faculty members of the university got a stay order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Civic body informs court that land was ‘erroneously’ allotted to QAU, was meant for road infrastructure

CDA officials have said that the project worth Rs6.5 billion will be completed within four months in accordance with the announcement of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

They said there are two major components of the road – flyover and interchange – and currently work was in progress on them with full pace.

The officials said these two components would be completed within two months and meanwhile, construction of the road was underway.

The CDA is constructing an interchange at the starting point of the project near Malpur and most of the piling work of the interchange has been done.

Meanwhile, the CDA is not carrying out construction work on the QAU land due to the stay order. The QAU faculty strongly opposed the move of passing the road through QAU area as 199 kanals of the university’s land falls under alignment of the road.

However, a QAU syndicate with majority 9-2 last week decided in favour of the bypass road and approved the CDA’s offer of providing 225 kanals as alternate land. Now, the case would be heard on Monday.

Officials of the engineering wing said CDA Chairman Capt Mohammad Usman has been directly monitoring the project and with his constant site visits, work has been witnessing pace.

Earlier on Sept 30, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had laid the foundation stone of the project, directing the NLC to complete the project in three months, instead of four as mentioned in the PC-I.

Meanwhile, in a new twist, CDA’s reply/documents, which were submitted to Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week, also stated that land where bypass is being constructed was acquired by CDA for road purpose but “erroneously” it was allotted to QAU.

“The land under QAU domain for which the Authority has initiated construction for the Bhara Kau bypass (the land subject to land swap) was initially acquired in 1962 to extend the former Murree Highway (now Srinagar Highway),” read the CDA’s response, which was submitted to IHC.

It stated that acquired area consisted of two awards: Mouza Kot Hathiyal (106 acres, June 4, 1962) and Malpur (462 Acre, 6 kanals: 19 June 1962).

“At the time of allotment of land in favour of the QAU, the land parcel earmarked specifically for extension of the erstwhile Murree Highway (present bypass) was erroneously included in QAU Land and remains under their occupation until date,” read the document.

The documents further stated that the QAU allotment was made in 1971 comprising Malpur, Kot Hathiyal, Jang Bangyal and Nurpur Shahan. “There were two separate acquisition in 1967 (Malpur: 3,500 acres and Kot Hathial: 200 acres) on which the QAU was allotted land in 1971,” it said.

The document revealed the “authority is constructing the bypass road as per the original land acquisition plan earmarked for the extension of the erstwhile Murree Highway (the present Srinagar Highway). The right of way acquired for this bypass in a length of 2.1km from Murree Road towards Western side upto QAU.

“The stretch of 1,323 metres in possession with the QAU, in middle of this bypass, was initially erroneously allotted at the time of allotment of QAU,” the documents stated.

It said the record reveals that the 1962 acquisition of the erstwhile Murree Highway (Srinagar Highway) is unique because of the land was acquired for the specific purpose of extension of Murree High.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022