Kashmir Chowk underpass 78% done in 20 days; Naqvi says Islamabad encroachment drive will go on

Kashmir Chowk underpass in Islamabad is 78% complete after 20 days of work, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was told on an inspection visit, as he ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to finish it on schedule and promised that the drive against encroachments on state land in the capital will go on, Business Recorder reported on Saturday.

The underpass: what commuters get

• Progress: 78% of construction done in 20 days, according to the briefing given to the minister.
• Who it helps: traffic heading for Murree and Muzaffarabad, and commuters moving between Rawalpindi and Islamabad through Kashmir Chowk.
• Trees and lights: more than 6,000 trees are to be planted around the underpass, and Naqvi told the CDA to install "attractive lighting".
• Deadline: the CDA was told to finish within the set timeline. The date itself was not given in the briefing as reported, so watch for a CDA opening announcement.

Naqvi also said steps are being taken to ease congestion on the Islamabad Expressway, without giving details.

Encroachments: even government buildings are coming down

The minister supervised the demolition of the Khanna Police Station building, which stood on the green belt along the Islamabad Expressway. The station had already been moved to a temporary location, and a new, legally designated plot has been allotted for a permanent building. A few months earlier a Federal Constabulary camp office on the green belt was also pulled down.

"No government or private institution, or any individual, would be permitted to illegally occupy government land," Naqvi said, adding that "complete elimination of encroachments from the federal capital is our target."

The campaign comes days after the CDA said it had recovered state land worth Rs 1.3 trillion in Islamabad (our story).

What it means if you own or rent property in Islamabad

The message from the drive is that green belts and state land are being cleared whoever occupies them. Before buying or renting a plot, house or shop in the capital, check its approval with the CDA and make sure any extension, boundary wall or ramp is within the approved plan. Our property tax calculator and stamp duty calculator help you work out the cost of a purchase done properly, and the plot size converter turns marlas and kanals into square feet.