Sprucing up: Galiyat revamp gains momentum

Chairlifts to be repaired within seven days

ABBOTABAD: To clear the roads before the snowfall, Galiyat Development Authority has expedited repair work in the region.

This was stated by GDA Director Raza Ali Habib during a briefing on Tuesday to Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan who is also the director general of the authority.

Habib told the secretary Nathiagali and Ayubia roads have been widened and repair work is under way so that traffic can flow.

“Nearly 80% of the construction work on roads will be finished by November 30,” said Habib. “Work on 11 out of 17 small and medium routes to the picnic spots of Ayubia, Khanspur, Nathiagali and Changla Gali is nearly complete.”



Repair work is being expedited so that the roads are clear of the destruction caused by the monsoon rains. The paths must be paved so that snow can easily be cleared.

Smooth sailing

Since Galiyat is a region frequented by tourists, the secretary was also briefed on projects related to tourism. Habib said renovation of the chairlifts is in full swing so that the facility can become functional by next week. “The chairlift was built in 1964 and no major repair work has been carried out since.”

Spick and span

The director said a cleanliness drive would also kick off on September 14 during which garbage will be cleaned from the 30-kilometre road which runs from Bara Gali to Barian.

Habib said extra staff has been hired for the purpose and a meeting was held with owners of hotels in Galiyat where they were asked to keep their surroundings clean otherwise their hotels would be sealed.

“Members of Nathiagali Club had previously taken the initiative to clean Galiyat and remove encroachments, but the lack of resources and funds meant the campaign was abandoned.”

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