Austerity of the ‘mughals’: PM wants access road for Presidency helipad
The Rs10 million road would let the PM avoid the ‘long’ 600-metre drive.
The military secretary to the prime minister contacted the CDA chief recently and asked for the road to be built, says an official. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Since it assumed power, the PML-N government has been trying to create an impression of financial prudence by introducing austerity measures to conserve resources.
However, in its first direction to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding a ‘development plan’, the PM house has asked the civic agency to reinitiate work on a project aimed to give the prime minister direct and secure access from the PM Secretariat to a heliport located at President House.
The plan covers the construction of a half-kilometre long road between the PM Secretariat and the Presidency. Reliable source at the PM Secretariat said that on Monday, CDA officials visited the area where the road is to be constructed.
“The project aims to provide a hassle-free approach to the heliport for the prime minister,” the official added.
A senior CDA Planning Wing official confirmed the development, but asked not to be named. “The military secretary to the prime minister contacted the CDA chief recently and asked for the road to be built,” the official added.
He informed that the project was in its initial stage and the authority had only completed a survey for the proposed road.
“The road will be around 600 metres in length while its width will be approximately 10 metres. It will go from the PM Secretariat and pass north of the Supreme Court’s car park before getting to the Presidency,” he added.
A senior Engineering Wing official said costing for the project has yet to be done, but estimated the total cost of the project would be around Rs10 million. He added that a similar plan was floated in 2009 by former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“PM Gilani also wanted direct access to the heliport from his office, but the project was withdrawn for reasons unknown,” he said, adding that the cost of the project at that time was estimated at around Rs3.8 million.
“Since 2009, the cost of construction material and manpower witnessed a record 300 per cent increase. Now in 2013, the project will cost between Rs10 and Rs12 million,” said the official, who enjoys 30 years of experience with road infrastructure.
However, the official --- who visited the site thrice in 2009 --- said a land depression on the north side of the Presidency could further escalate the cost of the project as the ground will have to be levelled before a road is built.
Senior PML-N leader Senator Mushahidullah Khan declined to answer the question about PML-N government claims of austerity and the actual situation. “As I am unaware of the project, I can’t comment.”
When The Express Tribune informed Khan of the project’s details and asked whether it is in lines with the government’s austerity claims, he refrained from commenting and suggested Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid be approached instead.
The Express Tribune tried to contact Rashid via telephone and text message several times, but he did not respond by either medium till filing of this report.
Similarly, a PM Secretariat spokesperson said he does not have complete knowledge of the issue and asked to be contacted on Wednesday (today) for an official version.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2013.
Since it assumed power, the PML-N government has been trying to create an impression of financial prudence by introducing austerity measures to conserve resources.
However, in its first direction to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding a ‘development plan’, the PM house has asked the civic agency to reinitiate work on a project aimed to give the prime minister direct and secure access from the PM Secretariat to a heliport located at President House.
The plan covers the construction of a half-kilometre long road between the PM Secretariat and the Presidency. Reliable source at the PM Secretariat said that on Monday, CDA officials visited the area where the road is to be constructed.
“The project aims to provide a hassle-free approach to the heliport for the prime minister,” the official added.
A senior CDA Planning Wing official confirmed the development, but asked not to be named. “The military secretary to the prime minister contacted the CDA chief recently and asked for the road to be built,” the official added.
He informed that the project was in its initial stage and the authority had only completed a survey for the proposed road.
“The road will be around 600 metres in length while its width will be approximately 10 metres. It will go from the PM Secretariat and pass north of the Supreme Court’s car park before getting to the Presidency,” he added.
A senior Engineering Wing official said costing for the project has yet to be done, but estimated the total cost of the project would be around Rs10 million. He added that a similar plan was floated in 2009 by former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani.
“PM Gilani also wanted direct access to the heliport from his office, but the project was withdrawn for reasons unknown,” he said, adding that the cost of the project at that time was estimated at around Rs3.8 million.
“Since 2009, the cost of construction material and manpower witnessed a record 300 per cent increase. Now in 2013, the project will cost between Rs10 and Rs12 million,” said the official, who enjoys 30 years of experience with road infrastructure.
However, the official --- who visited the site thrice in 2009 --- said a land depression on the north side of the Presidency could further escalate the cost of the project as the ground will have to be levelled before a road is built.
Senior PML-N leader Senator Mushahidullah Khan declined to answer the question about PML-N government claims of austerity and the actual situation. “As I am unaware of the project, I can’t comment.”
When The Express Tribune informed Khan of the project’s details and asked whether it is in lines with the government’s austerity claims, he refrained from commenting and suggested Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid be approached instead.
The Express Tribune tried to contact Rashid via telephone and text message several times, but he did not respond by either medium till filing of this report.
Similarly, a PM Secretariat spokesperson said he does not have complete knowledge of the issue and asked to be contacted on Wednesday (today) for an official version.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2013.