Senate panel directs ministry to re-open motorway exit to new airport

ISLAMABAD: The Senate panel has recommended re-opening the exit on motorway leading to New Islamabad International Airport saying it the shortest passage from the capital to the airport, documents available with The News reveal.
The document containing recommendations of the Senate’s standing committee on communications dated December 26, 2014 has been sent to Secretary Communications and chairman National Highway Authority for necessary action with intimation to the committee.
The committee has recommended that the access from Kashmir Highway to new airport may be re-opened from January 01, 2015. It recommended that the towns lying between new airport and the motorway exit may be allowed temporary access as no new alternative route for airport has been finalised and no runway is being constructed for the time being.
Following are the recommendations of the committee:
“1. General Manager (Design-11) NHA vide letter No.2 (29)/GM(Design-II)/NHA/10/125 dated 13th April, 2010 conveyed the decision of meeting held on 30th March,2010 in NHA to M/s Dynast Associates that NHA has agreed to provide access against 130 Kanals land free of cost. Two towns/societies made the requisite land available for mutation in favour of NHA.
2. It will be the shortest passage towards the New Islamabad International Airport till the completion of the access road.
3. Since the Public Accounts Committee in its meeting held on 8th May, 2014 in Parliament House, had directed the Principal Accounting Officer not to construct the third runway for the time being.
4. General Manager (Operations) NHA vide letter No. 5(l)/NHA/GM(Ops)/2004/3598, dated 20th December, 2004 conveyed the approval accorded by Member (Operations) for construction of link road from Kashmir Highway to housing schemeswhich will be supervised by NHA and cost shall be borne by M/S Dynast Associates.
5. Director (OMU) NHA vide, letter No. 5(1)/Dir(OMU)/NHA/2005/ 1032, dated 18th March, 2005 conveyed the approval for opening and subsequent construction of Loop joining the M-1/M-2 Interchange to the proposed Air Port Road/Link road by Dynast Associate and requested to deposit NOC/Registration/processing fee amounting to Rs70,000/-
6. M/S Dynast Associates vide Letter No. DA(Mc-Tc-l)/NHA/41/ 109 /05 dated 21 March,2005 informed the Operation Wing, NHA the amount of Rs70,000/ has been paid to NHA vide Demand Draft NO.D-0407074, dated 19th March, 2005.
7. Considering all the above, Committee recommended that the housing towns lying between new airport and motorway exit may be allowed temporary access as no new alternate route for airport has been finalized and no run way is being constructed for the time being.
8. Committee also recommended that NHA should finalise its policy for giving access to the private housing societies from Motorways and announced it for public awareness.
9. Toll collection booth may be installed on both sides (in and out ways) for which respective housing societies may be asked to share the cost of installation of Toll Collection Booths.
10. The access from Kashmir Highway to housing schemes may be opened up to 1st January 2015.”