CDA continues uplift of Sector E-12 strategically

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is continuing with the phase-wise development activity in Sector E-12/2 and leveling/grading work is going on. However, the persistent wet spell has hampered the work, making the heavy machinery unable to keep up the pace with the desired levels.

The Chairman of the CDA and Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Amir Ali Ahmed, while talking to ‘The News’ said that the Authority has changed the strategy towards sector or any other project execution.

“Over the past we have seen that any development project, especially aimed at developing a new sector or any other housing project, like the ‘Park Enclave’, different elements throw spanner in the wheel taking one step or the other,” the Chairman of the Authority said.

“Whenever such an incident had happened, most recently in the case of ‘Park Enclave’ and ‘Park Enclave-II’ development the CDA had been dragged into litigation, causing unnecessary delays in completion of the projects, causing cost escalations on one hand and delay in handing over the plots to the alloties,” Amir Ali Ahmed said.

He said that this time the CDA has completely changed the modus operandi and now the development work would be launched in phases and only in those areas where the total mass of land is cleared and is in possession of the Authority.

“This time we have launched the initial development work, employing our own resources. In the first phase work on the service roads in the north and in the west, in addition to the major arteries in the sub-sector E-12/2 has been launched.

“Once these roads will be completed only then the Authority will go for engaging the private contractors for laying and construction of basic infrastructure. This way we are unlikely to face any obstruction like the ones we had confronted in the past,” the Chairman said.

He said that while the work is underway in sector E-12/2, we are continuing to get the remaining areas under adverse possession cleared and only then the development work on other sub-sectors would be launched.

“Again, the basic infrastructure like main roads and arteries would be developed by the CDA through its own resources and for the purpose the MPO (Machinery Pool Organisation), which is very well equipped has been activated and so far the exercise is going well,” the Chairman said.

He also said that efforts to remove the hurdles being faced in getting the land for the Park Enclave-II are also underway and we hope the Authority would be able to get those cleared soon, enabling us to start development and eventually handover the possession of plots to those allotted.

“We have made it as a future policy in the CDA that until and unless all the land for developing a new sector or any other project would not be acquired, it would not be put up to public for allotment or through open auctions.

“We are in coordination with the ICT as well as the judiciary to sort out the legal hurdles on a fast track basis, disposing of the cases or claims of land in accordance with the laid down policies of the CDA,” the Chairman said.

He expressed the hope that the review of the Islamabad Master Plan will also contribute towards improving the development activities in the federal capital.