Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: To the heights of incompetency and lethargy of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Environment Department, one dozen of golf cars, purchased for tourists are out of order for almost last eight months.

The Capital Development Authority bought 12 large golf cars, for promotion of tourism in the federal capital Islamabad out of these vehicles four each were allocated for Margalla Hills and Lake View Park, while two were given to Rose and Jasmine Garden. One car was reserved for the office of Chairman Capital Development Authority and one was kept for sub office.

But unluckily these golf cars are not in running condition due to weakening of their batteries since last October. As these cars are not functioning, the use of private cars by the tourists is on rise, which is also increasing air pollution on the picnic spots of the city.

The two golf cars possessed by Capital Development Authority are parked at View Point of Daman-i-Koh in extremely ghastly condition in the open air as there is no one to look after these cars. Remaining two cars which were reserved for Margalla Hills are vanished. The Manager of Daman-i-Koh Amusement Park Junaid told Daily Times that first these car were stopped in October 2015 due to the reason that the tickets for the tourists for riding these cars were not printed.

For the purpose he submitted written requests several times to the head office. Now the tickets are printed but the batteries of these tourist cars have been defected. However, they are plying on their prescribed routs. Sometime they create trouble due to weak batteries.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Capital Development Authority had purchased these cars in 2010. There are 14 batteries of six watts each in every car and the price of one battery is Rs45000 now days.

Foreman Zafar told this reporter that they have sent the summary for purchase of 168 batteries, which were approved by Member Environment after that the tender was also issued.

He said that no Pakistani company manufactures this kind of batteries so these batteries would be imported from China. The estimated cost of batteries could be Rs 7.56 million and there is a capacity of 14 passengers in a car that costs Rs 1.8 million per vehicle.