CDA fails to move Faizabad Bus stand to designated site

ISLAMABAD: The city managers, even after the lapse of 15 years, have failed to implement their decision in which a permanent site proposed by the Planning Wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) at I-11/4 sector for the future inter-city bus stand for Islamabad.

“In order to further facilitate the passengers, CDA would also consider to develop halting points for picking and dropping passengers at appropriate locations along IJ Principal Road including Faizabad,” it was also decided in the said meeting.

According to documents, CDA intended to develop the same in the next three to four years. This proposed site was adjacent to the intra-city wagon stand measuring 400×400 (3.67 acres) along with a site 140×400 for taxi located in I-11 towards north of Fruit & Vegetable Market.

After this decision, the Directorate of Municipal Administration and ITA secretary started making efforts to remove the unauthorised bus service operators along the IJ Principal Road near Faizabad and other areas against which these operators filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court (Rawalpindi bench).

On the basis of the CDA Board decision in 2011, the Urban Planning Directorate requested the Directorate of Municipal Administration to issue license for a D-class coach stand to the applicant Raja Shahid Ahmed (Raja Travels) after he has paid land use conversion fee to the CDA’s Urban Planning Directorate in context of his documents regarding his land possession and purchase of the land, to be used as coach stand.

Raja Shahid made reference to permission given to M/S Sky Ways for running of D-type air condition coach stand and a CNG station after paying land use conversion fee at exempted pocket at Faizabad. On March 15, 2017, CDA Urban Planning director regretted the application of the Raja Travels giving the reason that area for which the approval was granted by CDA Board and the area for which NOC is requested are about 300 metres away from each other and not also in contiguous form.

It was also requested that the CDA Directorate of Architecture for preparation of the plan on the National Bus Terminal in Sector I-11/4. From 2010 onwards, various temporary permissions for car parking in context of beautification of CDA land were given by the Municipal Administration. These temporary permissions also included the permission granted to Raja Sajid for creation of organized Hawker Bazar at Faizabad.

The same permission was cancelled in 2013 and site was got vacated after intervention of the Islamabad High Court. Subsequently, permissions for temporary use of land/open spaces for car parking and beautification purposes at Faizabad, IJ Principal Road were cancelled by the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the cases for vacation of the sites was referred to the Enforcement Directorate.

Correspondences were also made with the ICT chief commissioner, ITA secretary, IGP Islamabad etc for removal of illegal/unauthorised bus stands at IJP Road and Faizabad and conveying the status of these bus stands. The Directorate of Municipal Administration requested the Planning Wing of CDA to resolve the issue of unauthorised bus stands at Faizabad.

The CDA Planning Wing conveyed about making amendment in the lay out plan of I-11/4 sector. The area of intra-city wagon/taxi stand was enhanced to 8.80kanal with following suggestions: this would be temporary arrangement until a national transport terminal is developed by CDA in I-11. The impact of the enhanced area of the intra-city wagon & taxi stand on the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement already made would be considered, examined and decided by the DMA.

Two sites of already constructed public toilets will be part of the plan. About 23 number temporary kiosks in total (measuring 10×10 each) have been re-planned in the north of Langar Khana. The present anti-encroachment operations across the city give the managers another golden opportunity to rid the area of illegal bus stations from Faizabad and Pir Widhai.