Since the initiation of the Bhara Khau Bypass project in Islamabad, the project has been controversial talk in the twin cities of Rawalpindi & Islamabad as well as in the areas connected to Bhara Kahu. The plan of the Bhara Kahu bypass was 5.22 km out of which 4.18 km was grade road and 1.04 km was the elevated highway.
The issue surfaced when a portion of the Bhara Kahu Bypass that was planned to be a flyover was changed to a road to be constructed passing through the Quaid e Azam University (QAU) Islamabad, occupying the major part of Quaid e Azam Univerity (QAU), Islamabad and ultimately dividing the university into two parts.
The Quaid e Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad is one of the oldest universities in Pakistan whose foundation was laid in 1966 and 1705 acres of land was provided for the university. But now the highway passing through the university will decrease its area which is a concern for both faculty and students of Quaid e Azam University (QAU), Islamabad.
Bhara Kahu Bypass was planned on the most commercial sector of Bhara Kahu where all the business was carried out for Bhara Kahu and other regions connecting Murree. The idea of constructing the road passing through the QAU emerged when the business owners raised the point that their business will badly be impacted if a flyover is constructed over them and it will have an adverse impact on the local business of the area.
In October, the Islamabad High Court (IHS) issued a stay order against the project filed by the faculty and students of Quaid e Azam University (QAU), Islamabad. Recently, a public hearing was carried out by Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and the report was prepared by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on the Bhara Kahu bypass project at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
The representatives of CDA presented a detailed report regarding the environmental concerns and the report highlighted that the bypass would not cause environmental damage in the area. Around 67,000 commuters are travelling per day on Bhara Kahu road. It is said that the Bhara Kahu Bypass will reduce almost half of the traffic as the traffic will be diverted on the Bhara Kahu bypass.
The locals of Bhara Kahu as well as the students of Quaid e Azam University (QAU) participated and the hearing was disrupted multiple times and both parties exchanged bitter slogans. The students and faculty members raised questions regarding the cutting of trees in the area where as a local in the regard added only eucalyptus trees were chopped down and there was no negative impact on the environment. Apart from it, the Capital Development Authority has agreed to provide alternate land to Quaid e Azam University (QAU) Islamabad and the faculty and students don’t agree with this proposal.
The Bhara Kahu Bypass is a project that will impact many, so now it’s time for the government to address the issue and chalk out the ways to satisfy both parties involved.