ISLAMABAD: An effort to undermine prime minister’s orders for construction of an access road to the New Islamabad International Airport was snubbed by the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday when he straightway rejected the proposal tipped by the Aviation Division to discuss link route in contrast to the one approved by the premier in categorical terms. A meeting of Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms (Transport & Communication Sector) chaired by Ahsan Iqbal here discussed the progress of New Islamabad International Airport and its peripheral facilities i.e. bulk water supply, electricity, road links, etc. Sources told The News that at the very outset, Ahsan Iqbal snubbed the officials of the aviation division grilling them for proposing a new access route to the under-construction airport. Sources said the the officials presented certain figures to distract the Planning Division and the PM’s Secretariat as they presented a rosy picture of their proposed zigzag route and tried to undermine the straight, hassle-free and most affordable road. Ahsan Iqbal asked one of his officers to read out the order of the prime minister to the officers of Aviation Division. The following directions of the PM were readout before the meeting. “The prime minister has seen and observed as follows: On reconsideration, it may not be appropriate to change the alignment of the access road at this stage particularly when it was announced years earlier after consideration of all facts and then prevalent developments in the area. The prime minister has further observed that the old alignment is still the most cost-effective option available as a significant portion of land is available as right of way. The executing agency shall however ensure that the road remains a limited access road with arrangements similar to that made on the motorway along with a service road to provide people of the adjoining localities travel options to the nearest interchange. The prime minister has also observed that one access road was not enough for a facility like New Islamabad Airport and therefore more link roads should also be planned, in due course, because such projects cannot be operated through a single access road. The Capital Development Authority, the National Highway Authority and the Government of Punjab may continue to plan the implementation and execution of other road access projects according to the timelines of development of those areas after arranging necessary funding. The prime minister has further desired that work on the road as per the old alignment of Shahrah-e-Kashmir up to Motorway link Road and then to new Islamabad International Airport shall be started and completed in time for inauguration of the airport”. Well-placed sources disclosed that Ahsan Iqbal while rejecting the Aviation Division’s proposal said he would not discuss any other access route but the one approved by the PM. When contacted, Ahsan Iqbal only replied: “Today’s meeting was to expedite work on electricity, water and road connectivity”. It is worth mentioning here that one of the reasons for grilling the officers of Aviation Division also was that besides PM’s approval of the access route, the National Highway Authority had advertised the tender. The pre-bid meeting will be March 5. Eligible parties can submit their bids till March 25 as per the NHA’s advertisement. The NHA, according to the advertisement, was supposed to provide the bidding documents from February 25, 2015 but those who have asked for the documents have not yet been provided with the bidding documents.
