Metro bus: CDA forms joint team to address pollution, traffic

Meeting on issues in wake of construction work.

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman held a meeting on Saturday to resolve the three main issues — traffic diversions, shifting of utilities and dust pollution — caused by the Islamabad section of the metro bus project.

Chairman Maroof Afzal met with the representatives of all five project contractors and officials of CDA, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), NESPAK and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) at the project’s site office at the junction of IJ Principal Road and 9th Avenue.

The meeting was informed that there are three major issues being faced on the Islamabad portion of Metro Bus Project, namely the absence of a comprehensive traffic plan, shifting of services lines and problems created by dust and mud due to digging.

Afzal consituted a joint technical team including representatives of the CDA, SNGPL, NESPAK, IESCO and the contractors to finalise the shifting of electricity, gas and water lines from the way of the project immediately. The committee will prepare a detailed plan of action for shifting the utilities which are causing a delay in the construction work, according to the CDA.

Afzal said the representatives of the project’s consultant NESPAK should sit with a traffic engineer from CDA and representatives of the Islamabad Traffic police to devise a comprehensive traffic and security plans for the routes where Metro Bus construction is being carried out.

Afzal also directed the installation of revolving lights and reflectors at construction and excavation venues to avoid any accident at night. He also directed the contractors to dump the debris at a dumping site identified by CDA.

Meanwhile, CDA Administration Member Amir Ali Ahmed has directed the Directorate of Health Services to constitute special teams for operation against sub-standard fruit and drink sellers in the city to ensure supply of hygienic food stuff for public during the summer season.

The teams are expected to submit weekly progress reports to Ahmed. During the past week, the authority issued 75 notices and 27 challans to violators including a hotel in Sector F-7 and a tea stall in Sector G-8/4 which were partially sealed. Around sixty litres of non-branded oil, six dozen snacks and 40 unhygienic utensils were also confiscated by the health directorate’s teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2014.