Beautification plan: CDA won't allow addition of another storey to plazas in Blue Area

The capital's civic body has made it clear that it will not allow addition of another storey to the buildings already constructed in Blue Area and will be demolished if built in violation of capital development authority (CDA) by-laws, it was learnt here on Monday. As part of beautification plan, allocation of a car parking in Blue Area or elsewhere in Islamabad would be made necessary.
However, the CDA has invited proposals from all the building owners to convert small Blue Area's plazas into 20 storey buildings. They have been asked to submit their detailed proposals by December 24, which will be finalised till January 12, sources said. The issue was deliberately discussed in a meeting between the plaza owners and CDA planning/architecture wing.
The CDA has started a drive to improve the architecture and façade of these buildings as part of its ongoing beautification plan in the federal capital.
As per proposed plan, all plazas located in Blue Area would be made identical to attract the visitors besides generating the commercial activities in Islamabad.
Those who want to convert small buildings into big plazas and construct additional storeys would have to submit their recommendations by December 24, the authority pointed out.
The CDA has made it clear to the owners that authority would allow conversion of small buildings into big plazas in case they were ready to demolish the existing structure, official said. The construction of additional structure on the standing plazas was illogical, official added.
The CDA was also working on a plan under which all plazas, buildings and housing apartments of Islamabad would be made high-rise and attractive. Meanwhile, the CDA also considering to invite private construction companies to build big apartments in five new sectors to overcome the shortage of housing units in the capital.
The real estate prices in the capital have gone out of common man's reach. The CDA has allowed the owners of hotels situated on Club Road to convert them into ten storey structures.