Rs1.8b project: Bahria Town to challenge stay order in superior court

Terms the move an act of open discouragement for the private-public healthy competition.

The Chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz Hussain has said that he was consulting leading lawyers in the country to take action against the stay order on the construction of flyover and underpasses.

The property tycoon said that he will challenge the matter in the superior court for justice. He will raise voice against issuance of such arbitrary orders that damage the image of the national institutions in the eyes of the public.

Bahria Town was preparing to construct the unique project of Clifton flyover and underpasses at a price tag of Rs1.8billion in a record period.  Work at the construction site was halted by Rangers on the orders of the corps commander Karachi long before the court orders were served.

This appears to be an act of open and serious discouragement for the private-public healthy competition and violation of the codes of approval. This action has raised innumerable suspicions.  Riaz said the interference by rangers, who stopped work by force is certainly the result of the victimisation by Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Karachi.

The project was initiated after the no-objection certificate (NOC) from the environment department and Karachi Metropolitan Department (KMC). It may be mentioned that this project was in the limits of KMC and not the cantonment board.

According to details, a 20-feet deep excavation in the area of Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine area has already been done. And the stay order will only add to the difficulties of the general public and the visitors of the shrine.

According to sources, Bahria Town paid Rs130m to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation as betterment charges to improve the roads around the area but KMC did not take any steps. Bahria Town started constructing the Icon and is investing Rs1.8b to construct two underpasses and one flyover in a period of four months.

Before initiating the project, Bahria Town conducted an environment survey of the area by an international consultant. The same consultant has also prepared the designs. The model of this project is being used in successful countries across the world. These include Mall of Emirates and Dubai Mall Burges and Road projects. But DHA feared an end to its monopoly and interfered to stop the construction work.

A wave of dismay has spread in the residents of Karachi. If the stay order is not vacated the area will face traffic problems for the next ten to twenty days as the shrine is visited by thousands every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Furthermore, Bahria Town is spending tens of millions of rupees on the world class security infrastructure for the beautification of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine.

The residents of Karachi say that the project is 100 per cent in the interest of the residents of the city and this will not only benefit the residents of today but also the five generations to come. Such projects should be encouraged and cooperation should be extended to them.

It may be noticed that these projects not only have an importance for the national development but the jobs of thousands of people is also associated with them. These projects should be resumed so that they could be completed before Ramadan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2014.