ISLAMABAD: The proposed expansion of Lake View Park along with installation of a Ferris wheel is facing delay.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been claiming since 2014 that a Ferris wheel would be installed in the park, but so far has taken no practical step.
A few months ago, the proposed project was presented before CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP), which directed the civic agency to hire a consultant for soil testing before moving forward.
When contacted, Director General Environment Irfan Niazi said the CDA will hire the consultant soon. He said the proposed project worth Rs1.6 billion was presented before the DWP a few months ago which directed for hiring the consultant for soil testing. “Now, we are going to hire the consultant,” he said.
CDA had announced expansion of Lake View Park, installation of Ferris wheel in 2014
Last year, the CDA had claimed that the Ferris wheel, to be named as ‘Islamabad Eye’, would be 180 feet high from where the visitors could view Islamabad.
“It will be similar to London Eye,” the CDA had claimed last year. London Eye is one of the highest public viewing points which is installed on the south bank of River Thames. It is one of the most popular paid tourist attractions in the United Kingdom.
In 2014-15, the CDA had made announcements about installing a Ferris wheel in F-9 Park. Later, the civic agency said it would be installed at Malpur. However, it could not translate the announcement into reality.
Besides the Ferries wheel, the CDA had also announced last year its decision to construct a new park near Bhara Kahu in the national park area. Apart from other features, the park will have an exclusive section for women and children, the CDA had stated.
It would also have a walking track, kids’ playing gadgets, exercise units, a water sports area, a mini-golf course and a forest area.
CDA officials had stated that the park would be constructed at forest number 8 on around 350 acres.
They said before the start of Bhara Kahu on Murree side, the CDA had over 350 acre forest land from Shahpur road stop to Bhara Kahu. They said this area would be utilised for the park.
The DG environment said the Bhara Kahu park and Ferris wheel project were together presented before the DWP, which had directed for hiring consultants for soil testing for both the projects.
“This is unfair to say that we have shelved both the projects. Rather, in a week, we will call bids for hiring the consultant,” he said and added that after reports by the consultants, the CDA will call bids for staring construction work on both the projects.
Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2022
