Box culverts to be built in Sector I-11/2

Will drain rainwater, provide path for pedestrians

ISLAMABAD: With the monsoon season just around the corner, tenders have been issued by the apex civic authority of the federal capital for building four, box culverts in Sector I-11/2.

Officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday said that the NIT of the project, worth around Rs137.42 million has also been issued.

The culverts, they said, have been planned in Sector I-11/2 to drain high volumes of water and handle a higher rate of water flow than the already installed pipes. Apart from drainage, the culverts will also be able to accommodate vehicular and pedestrian movement.

Monsoon rains to hit Pakistan by end of June

The tenders follow another set of tenders issued by the CDA for the work on storm drains in Sector I-11.

The CDA Board, in its 45th meeting held in October 2019, had approved a project concept-I (PC-I) and IV worth Rs2.618 billion for development activities in the sector.

Consequently, upon approval of the project costs, the respective formations were directed to fulfil formalities so that the work of the respective formation can be carried out simultaneously.

CDA was due to arrange tenders for building a network of storm drains in Sector I-11/1 and Sector I-12/1 before the Eidul Fitr holidays. The project was aimed at channelling rainwater away from the roads and streets of the sectors and to protect the road network built there during the rainy season.

Curiously, the CDA Development Working Party (DWP) had first approved an Rs2.6 billion project for the development of Sector I-11/1 in July 2016 by then CDA chief Maroof Afzal.

The sub-sector near Sabzi Mandi was partially occupied by an illegal slum where Afghan refugees lived. The civic agency demolished over 600 illegally-built houses and other structures during an operation following directions from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in 2015.

Normal rainfall expected during monsoon

On the vacated land, CDA had earmarked some 300 plots and landowners had moved the court against its illegal occupation.

Sector I-11 has a nullah passing through it which essentially bisects the sectoral area. On one end, it feeds the lake at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Sector H-12, and on the other, it eventually drains in Nullah Leh.

The sector houses a vegetable market as well as bus stands, particularly the National Bus Terminal (NBT). The terminal has three main halls which can accommodate around 35 buses and 25 coasters at a time.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2020.