MURREE: The provincial authorities have put the long awaited reconstruction project of Murree-Kohala Road at stake as they stopped the designated construction company from broadening as per work order. Prior, the authorities have approved widening of the 48 kilometre Murree-Kohala Road by 36 feet. Sources said on Tuesday that Habib Construction Company, which was assigned to renovate 23km portion from Lower Topa to Dewal, the native village of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been stopped to widen the road following directives of Punjab Communication & Works Department. The Islamabad-Murree-Kashmir Highway connecting Islamabad and Punjab with Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) caters to heavy traffic of tourists, locals and people commuting between Punjab and AJK. The road has not been repaired for about 28 years. Designated construction was assigned widening of road by 36 feet including shoulder as per approval besides, dismantling as well carpeting. According to work plan the construction company was also assigned to eliminate blind sharp bends, which was causing daily accidents, the sources further informed. The authorities have stopped us from widening of road as per work order, the sources said adding that the company cannot start widening of the road sans provincial authorities approval. We have already committed a blunder to enlarge some portion of road. The company would be only responsible to built toe walls along side enlarge some portion of road, which widen in haste. The provincial government is in no mood revised estimated cost for the road, moreover the company cannot widen road through his own expenses, he said. The company was responsible to dismantle and carpet the road as per allocated funds. The authorities will have to revise estimated cost of this running project stipulation to recommended plan, he further added. The authorities has deferred widening plan of Murree-Kohala Road turn over to general elections. The owners of the land along side road had approached higher authorities and raised their concerns in this context. These owners threatened to launch massive protest if their demands not met a local leader of ruling party. The widening of the road could suffer ruling party vote bank if locality launch massive protest. Definitely the widening of existing road was need of hour, however it will be done following general election he said. The authorities were using delaying tactics for rehabilitation of Murree-Kohala Road, said Shakeel Abbasi a notable of the society. The locality will not accept construction of the road sans approve work order according to rules the authorities are responsible to compensate land owners along construction sites. The exercise had also been observed during construction of Islamabad Lower Topa Express Way. During construction of Islamabad Lower Topa Express Way hefty amounts were given to effecters, he maintained. The authorities should announce compensation amount for the land owners, whose residences or pieces of lands along Murree-Kohala Road were affected, he demanded. Another notable of the society Sohrab Abbasi held provincial’s authorities for this disaster. The provincial authorities were taking sweat naps while the illegal construction was underway alongside this road. According to law any type of construction was banned along both side of RMK by 36 feet. This visible written indication could have seen in scattered places he informed. The highway authorities should occupy its own land as per law along both sides of roads and also make arrangements for compensatory payments for factual land owners, he said. The Murree-Kohala Road has another importance due to defense perspective the arm movement as well as heavy machinery is only possible during any inconvenient at Pakistan eastern borders tension. Published in Daily Times, April 18th 2018.