Capital upgrades: Four development projects for capital approved

Projects include widening of expressway, two residential sectors.

ISLAMABAD: Four development projects worth Rs33.93 billion for the capital were approved on Wednesday.

The approval of the projects — development of the stalled Kuri Model Village, sectors C-14 and C-15 and widening of Islamabad Highway — were given at a meeting of the Development Working Party (DWP) of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Presided over by CDA Chairperson Maroof Afzal, the board members and senior officials of the planning and cabinet divisions also attended the meeting held at its headquarters.

The PC-1s of the two sectors amounting to Rs8 billion have been approved.



“Development of these sectors will not only help bridge supply and demand gap of housing in the capital but will also open new avenues of development in the city,” a statement issued by the agency reads.

Both the sectors are located along the foothills of Margallas. The value of a 500-square-yard plot at the two sectors is between Rs7 million and Rs9 million, which is beyond the reach of a common man.

The development of Kuri Model Village would cost around Rs4 billion. It will not only help in acquisition of hundreds of acres of land but will also help resolve the long-delayed development. Almost one-third of the land meant for the village had already been encroached by a housing society.

Similarly, Rs21.8 billion will be spent on the development of signal-free and controlled-access corridor of Islamabad Highway from Zero Point to GT Road.

Under the project, five lanes each would be constructed on both sides of the highway.

Two major interchanges, underpasses and T-junction will also be constructed on the highway. The highway is of great importance as it facilitates traffic flow from Punjab and other part of the country.

Expansion of the highway will facilitate commuters from other parts of the country as well as those residing along the highway, the statement said.

The CDA Chairperson, Maroof Afzal, said that work on the projects will start at the earliest on completion of formalities.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2015.