Bus terminal demolition: NHA, ITA tussle intensifies
Officials say 11 of 15 bus terminals in capital are illegal.
Officials say 11 of 15 bus terminals in capital are illegal. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The recent removal of an ‘illegal’ bus stand in Jhangi Syedan raised questions over who has jurisdiction over such structures.
Both the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) claimed control over the bus stand, which the ITA demolished in February after a court order to do so.
The NHA wrote a letter to the ITA demanding Rs5.9million compensation for demolishing the stand and the adjacent tuck shop, both sources of revenue for the authority.
NHA Deputy Director Maintenance Ehteshamul Haq Awan wrote the letter to the ITA secretary on February 27, five days after the demolition was carried out, according to a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official.
According to the letter the ITA secretary, CDA enforcement directorate and Rawalpindi police had carried out a joint operation without providing any notice.
The letter stated that it had leased out the bus terminal for three years and the monthly returns from the stand stood at Rs312,687.
“Rs5,883,541 may be recovered from ITA as it has illegally demolished NHA property,” said the letter.
It is worth noting that on the direction of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the ITA and CDA launched a joint operation on IJP Road and removed illegal bus stands including the Jhangi Syedan terminal.
An official in the ICT administration said that a total of 15 bus terminals were operating in the capital, 11 of which were illegal. The official added that most of the illegal stands are located along IJP Road.
ITA Secretary Lubna Ghayas insisted that the said structure fell in ITA jurisdiction and denied receiving any letter from the NHA. She said “ITA is the competent authority to grant approval of bus stands, parking places, and tuck shops. The bus stand was operating illegally and was demolished upon court directions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2014.
The recent removal of an ‘illegal’ bus stand in Jhangi Syedan raised questions over who has jurisdiction over such structures.
Both the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) claimed control over the bus stand, which the ITA demolished in February after a court order to do so.
The NHA wrote a letter to the ITA demanding Rs5.9million compensation for demolishing the stand and the adjacent tuck shop, both sources of revenue for the authority.
NHA Deputy Director Maintenance Ehteshamul Haq Awan wrote the letter to the ITA secretary on February 27, five days after the demolition was carried out, according to a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official.
According to the letter the ITA secretary, CDA enforcement directorate and Rawalpindi police had carried out a joint operation without providing any notice.
The letter stated that it had leased out the bus terminal for three years and the monthly returns from the stand stood at Rs312,687.
“Rs5,883,541 may be recovered from ITA as it has illegally demolished NHA property,” said the letter.
It is worth noting that on the direction of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the ITA and CDA launched a joint operation on IJP Road and removed illegal bus stands including the Jhangi Syedan terminal.
An official in the ICT administration said that a total of 15 bus terminals were operating in the capital, 11 of which were illegal. The official added that most of the illegal stands are located along IJP Road.
ITA Secretary Lubna Ghayas insisted that the said structure fell in ITA jurisdiction and denied receiving any letter from the NHA. She said “ITA is the competent authority to grant approval of bus stands, parking places, and tuck shops. The bus stand was operating illegally and was demolished upon court directions.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2014.