CDA tightens building by-laws

The development of commercial buildings, in the federal capital, is at standstill as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has tightened its building by-laws, sources in the authority told Business Recorder here on Friday. According to the sources, CDA Planning Directorate has lifted all the concessions, it used to offer private builders' couple of years back.
The sources said that a number of layout plans for the construction of commercial plazas in different sectors of Islamabad are pending because the Planning Directorate and the relevant officials are reluctant to approve these layout plans. The situation has created chaos among the developers and few of them have gone to invest their money in other metropolitan cities, they said. According to the source, the basement was never treated as part of the floor in the past but now the authority is treating the basement as a floor of a proposed building.
While talking to Business Recorder, President City Developer Association, Chaudhry Naseer said that there are 16 mega projects whose payment has been made, but still the projects couldn't be executed for last four years due to CDA's incumbent management initiatives. He said the commercial projects at main Blue Area could enhance commercial activities and also prove fruitful for the state. He said the civic body has not approved any layout plan submitted to the authority for the construction of commercial plans for the last three years. The total land against these projects was auctioned at worth Rs 25 billions, he said. Earlier, plot auction by the authority was boycotted twice due to non-serious attitude of Planning and Development Wing of CDA, he added.
Moreover, the investors are stepping back from investing in the federal capital and leaving for other cities for investment due to the non-co-operative attitude of CDA, especially unreasonable delays in executing the projects. He further stated that the civic body conducted operations against the restaurants built in the non commercial housing areas, but has not given any space for the construction of Food Chains. He said the area near McDonald, F10 is meant for restaurants; however CDA is selling 1-1 plots while wasting major land thus causing loss to the state.
He said if the private sector had this land, the area could have been developed as a model structure. On the other hand, CDA spokesperson, Ramzan Sajid said that those who fulfil the requirements get the layout and maps approved timely, adding that every auction contains terms and conditions to be followed with respect to the area.