Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A tussle between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the newly established Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) over devolution of powers and resources has been hindering the rehabilitation and up-gradation of IJ Principal Road since months.

Both sides are trying to get control of the project. CDA had awarded the contract worth Rs 168 million in March. The project included the re-carpeting of the road from Pindora Chungi to GT Road, lane marking and provision of missing facilities alongside it. The project includes the upgradation of drainage system on both sides of the road and the green areas along the road. The Roads and Market (Maintenance) Directorate is empowered to physically execute the project, but this directorate has been shifted to the Metropolitan Corporation, whereas both CDA and IMC are trying hard to get the execution rights of the project.

While responding to queries on delays in the project, CDA Member Engineering Shahid Sohail said, “We wrote a letter to Metropolitan Corporation and requested it allow us to execute this project as it needed prompt and immediate attention due to the dilapidated condition of the road. Although, it was decided to shift the concerned directorate to IMC, but final decision has yet to be taken.” On the other hand, while talking to Daily Times, Chief Metropolitan Officer Asad Kiani said; “The Islamabad mayor has rejected the CDA request and decided to execute the rehabilitation of IJ Principal Road project through the metropolitan corporation.” He said that work on the site would be started within a week, and Mayor Shaikh Ansar Aziz will personally inaugurate the project. IJP Road is one of the important roads of the federal capital. However, in the last two years the road has been ruined, mainly because of use by heavy trucks. After the completion of electoral process of IMC, it was decided to transfer 49 directorates of CDA to the Metropo-litan Corpor-ation. As per a decision, 23 directorates were fully devolved while 26 were partially devolved to the IMC. But labour and officers’ bodies of CDA approached Islamabad High Court to seek a verdict against this process. However, the court referred the matter back to the government, directing it that the devolution process be revisited and all stakeholders be taken on board.