CDA board approves 100 percent rise in toll tax

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has approved 100 per cent increase in the toll tax in the federal capital despite refusal of interior ministry and public representatives. Authority's Chairman Kamran Lashari presided over the Board meeting that held here at the CDA Headquarters on Wednesday.
Member administration, member engineering, member finance and member planning also attended the meeting.
Under the new decision, private vehicles, public transport and goods transport enters Islamabad will have to pay double tax at the toll plazas i e 100 per cent raise. The private cars would now have to pay Rs 10 instead of Rs 5. Similarly, levy being charged from other vehicles would also be automatically doubled, a CDA spokesman said.
CDA had started charging toll tax in Islamabad about 10 years back and initially revenue directorate collected Rs 2 per vehicle, which was later raised on the demand of contractor. Earlier, the CDA has already started charging extra levy from the cars, trucks and buses without approval of competent authority.
The Board has also deferred an item on the agenda under which the authority was requested to allow no objection certificates (NOCs) for setting up 17 petrol pumps and 39 CNG stations on privately owned land alongside six major roads in Islamabad.
Kamran Lashari, however, directed the CDA Planning Wing to again the survey of those sites where the private companies willing to establish such facilities. These include G T Road, Fateh Jang Road, Islamabad Highway and I J Principal Road besides others. CDA Chairman also reviewed implementations of decisions taken by the Board between 3rd to 6th board meeting held in 2005. The Board has also deferred the permissibility of additional storey on several buildings located in Blue Area; G-11 and F-11 till the next meeting. In addition, hiring of architect for establishment of art & crafts village in the federal capital has been delayed without any comment from the chairman and members. Board will forward its decision regarding revision of toll tax to the ministry of interior for formal approval.