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A delegation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) met with the officials of Dehsabz – Barikab City Development Authority (DCDA), Independent Board of Kabul New City Development (KNC) on Saturday.
According to DCDA, a meeting of Dip. Eng. Alham Omar Hotaki Deputy and Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) held with JICA’s Infrastructure Director for (Afghanistan and Pakistan) with the participation of senior members of JICA and DCDA.
“The meeting aimed to understand and share the progress of KNC project as a whole and onsite construction activities of phase one, this included commencement of onsite work for construction of typical housing units in parcel 2.2, completion of concept for development of industrial park in Barikab Agriculture Economic Zone (BAEZ) and its approval by High Economic Council, completion of Real Estate Market Survey, revision of KNC development policy and discussion with H.E. the president on legal framework of DCDA accordingly,” a statement by the board said.
The statement further added “Likewise, following activities made for Kabul Metropolitan Area development; just as the concept for Qargha as a Recreational Economic Zone, concept for development of Central Business Districts (CBD) for existing Kabul and many other improvements were explained by Mr. Hotaki respectively.”
“JICA delegations appreciated the efforts of DCDA team and discussed about development of temporary water resources pipeline from Pul-e-charkhi area to KNC phase one for commencement of the onsite work. Finally, delegations ensured DCDA for cooperation and support of JICA’s Head Quarter in this regard,” the statement added.
DCDA officials had earlier announced that the construction of Kabul New City is ready to kick off, pending an approval from the Presidential Palace to start the construction work.
The officials further added that DCDA-KNC has signed five agreements with the companies to construct 55,000 residential houses, and the companies are prepared to start their work.
Kabul New City is almost two times bigger than the current city of Kabul, where 600,000 residential houses would be built which would be completed in two phases and in 15 years period.
According to DCDA officials, residential houses would be built for 1.5 million in the first phase of the construction work of Kabul New City, while further houses would be built for another 1 million people in the second phase, with the construction work estimated to cost round $80 billion, where the private sector would have a major role in terms of financing the construction work.
The construction design of Kabul New City was completed around 8 years ago where local and international experts contributed in preparing the master plan of the city which would be built in Dehsabz area of Kabul. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
