The issue of overhead bridges near the old airport in Rawalpindi is likely to land on the prime minister’s table next week, officials told The Express Tribune.
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan has assured of taking up the issue with PM Imran Khan next week, said officials of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
There is an on-going dispute between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Rawalpindi Development Authority and the district administration over the construction of two overhead bridges on the Airport Road in front of the now defunct Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
CAA and intelligence agency have rejected the Rawalpindi district administration's application for no-objection certificate for the construction of these two overhead bridges.
Subsequently, work on both the pedestrian bridges has been halted. Further delay may cause to increase in estimated cost, officials said.
At least 47 fatal accidents have been recorded on the road in the past five years. Cavalcades of government high-ups and vehicles of sensitive agencies pass through this area are very high speed, due to which bridge for pedestrians, bikers and cyclists are imperative.
Officials said that the district administration has decided to register cases against the authorities who stopped the construction of the overhead bridges in case of any fatal accident in the future.
Subsequently, RDA had approved two overhead pedestrian and motorcycle bridges near Shah Faisal Colony and Gulraiz at a cost of Rs70.5 million. Funds had also been provided for these projects.
However, an intelligence agency raised objection over the construction of a bridge close to its office.
RDA officials said that with half job done, CAA had cancelled the NOCs for two overhead bridges on Airport Road.
CAA has declared bridges as a security risk despite that the foundation of both bridges on one side of the road has been laid. The Express Tribune learnt that the CAA suspended the non-objection certificates (NOCs) for two each pedestrian and motorcycle bridges under construction by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).
The elected representatives of Rawalpindi have brought the matter to the knowledge of Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
Airport Road is one of the busiest roads of the garrison city and so far, 36 people have died while several others have been injured in different road accidents on the road due to fast traffic movement.
The development work on both bridges on one side of the road has been completed. However, before the commencement of work on the other side, CAA has cancelled NOCs. It has declared the bridges as a security risk due to the anticipated frequent movement of people and motorbikes. Hence, the project has fallen into a grey zone after the recent development.
The final decision on the issue is expected to be taken next week, RDA officials said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2020.
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