CDA unveils Rs 28.320b budget

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday announced Rs 28.320 billion surplus budget for fiscal year 2012-13 mostly based on sale of commercial and residential plots. Fiscal year 2012-13 budget is 18 percent higher than the previous financial year’s budget. According to budgetary documents, for fiscal year 2012-13, the civic body set a target of Rs 21,423.90 million against the disposal of residential and commercial plots through auctions.
Of total outlay, Rs 16,025.06, which is 57 percent of total outlay of budget, has been earmarked for development while Rs 12,295.65 million, which is 43 percent of total budget, has been allocated for non-development expenditure. Talking about the sources of revenues to achieve budget targets, CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal said that CDA would get Rs 3,488.91 million from the federal government while the civic body will get Rs 4,648.41 from receipt and Rs 21,423.90 million will be earned from disposal of residential and commercial plots.
The budget document does not offer any solution to the big problems being faced by residents of federal capital since long like shortage of housing units, shortage of disposal sites and shortage of drinking water. While announcing the budget, Farkhand Iqbal said CDA would start 11 new development schemes during the fiscal year 2012-13.
He said Rs 20.00 million has been earmarked for dualization of SR (W), F-11, Rs 300 million has been allocated for construction of Khayaban-e-Margalla from GT Road to D-12 and Rs 175 million has been fixed for construction of overhead bridge at various locations.
Whereas, the civic body has earmarked Rs 300 million for the construction of Kashmir Highway, Rs 300 million for the construction of pedestrian underpass in Blue Area and Rs 50.00 million has been allocated for construction of second Carriage of SR(S), H-8. For fiscal year 2012-13, CDA also allocated Rs 100 million for extension of railway track up to Faisal Avenue, Rs 75 million has been fixed for development of Markaz D-12, Rs 25 million for the development of Sector E-12, Rs 500 million has been fixed for the construction of 6,000 flats in sector I-15 and Rs 400 million has been allocated for Islamabad Metro Bus Service. Ironically, for the next fiscal year, CDA did not allocate funds for the Park Enclave which shows that city managers have no further interest in this project.
The chairman said in budget 2012-13 there would be no new tax on residents of the city against the property, water charges and toll tax. According to a budgetary document, under PSDP, CDA will get Rs 1,690.629 for the execution of 12 schemes.
The chairman said for PSDP project, Rs 452.248 millions have been earmarked for addition of third and fourth lane of Kashmir Highway from Peshawar Mor to Golra, Rs 13.206 millions have been allocated for replacement of lifts at Pak Secretariat. Some Rs 5.505 millions have been fixed for installation of CCTV system in Senate, Rs 1.157 has been allocated for A/C facilities by providing additional installation for soil/package type units and Rs 16 millions have been fixed for upgradation of automatic vote casting system installed in Senate.
Whereas, Rs 63.358 millions have been earmarked for security arrangement at Parliament House, Rs 20 millions have been fixed for construction of residential and non-residential accommodation of police at the presidency, Rs 11.650 millions have been earmarked for the construction of official residence for Speaker National Assembly.
Similarly, Rs 10.720 million has been fixed for construction of AGPR in Sector G-9, Rs 512 millions have been allocated for the construction of additional 104 family suits, Rs 93 millions have been allocated for the construction of second Hanger at Heliport and Rs 500 millions have been earmarked for construction of Charah Dam.
The chairman said that civic body had decided to launch two new housing projects in Sector C-14 and C-15. He said the two projects would be executed with public private partnership that’s why no funds have been allocated for it.