The proposal floated by the civic agency to build a road from Pir Sohawa to Bari Imam has been opposed. It has been called another potential disaster to the natural beauty of the protected national park.
Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), has welcomed public input on whether or not to develop separate entrance and exit routes for Margalla Hills traffic.
According to the official Twitter account, the chairman has hinted at constructing a road from Pir Sohawa to Bari Imam, forming a “three-road avenue to make it a loop to facilitate traffic movement.”
So far, the public’s reaction to the tweet has been varied. One half supports the plan to reduce traffic congestion, while the other half opposes it, claiming that the initiative will result in the ruin of the National Park.
One of the citizens tweeted, saying: Let a National Park remain as it is for the next generations. Let the wildlife have its habitat. In any case, what difference would it make to Pakistans development if some people have to spend more travel time sometime?
In another development,?the CDA has launched the Shakarparian Jungle Trek for walkers and cyclists. According to Mengal’s tweet, the three-kilometre trip will be open for seven days a week. The tweet also highlighted a new cycling trail along Rawal Lake that the CDA hopes to build “soon.” However, the completion date of a few key road projects, such as Bhara Kahu, is still uncertain.
Meanwhile, to meet the city’s rising transportation needs, the CDA has begun plans to implement a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Islamabad.