Road network restoration: Reimbursement of Rs1.67bn expense borne by NHA allowed

ISLAMABAD: The government has allowed reimbursement of Rs1.666 billion borne by the National Highways Authority (NHA) on the restoration of the provincial road network damaged during the flood 2022.

The approval to this effect was granted by the ECC on a summary moved by the Ministry of Communications that proposed the expenditure incurred on operational emergency works on provincial roads borne through the NHA road maintenance accounts be reimbursed upon the approval of the supplementary maintenance grant by the federal cabinet.

The Ministry of Communications informed the ECC that during flood 2022, Pakistan experienced record-breaking rainfall of 176 per cent higher than national 30-year average and Balochistan and Sindh provinces received about 450 per cent and 426 per cent rainfall above their 30-year average.

The ministry added that unprecedented rainfall during monsoon season resulted in heavy hill torrents and flash floods, causing severe damage to communication infrastructure and sections of national and provincial highway network remained disrupted, which were restored within the shortest possible period.

The NHA was directed by the prime minister to extend full cooperation and mobilise necessary machinery and resources to restore the provincial damaged roads, bridges, flood protection bunds, and irrigation infrastructure irrespective of the area of jurisdiction.

In pursuance, the NHA Council on August 2022 granted approval to the NHA for providing necessary assistance in extreme emergency situation to the NDMA, the PDMA in the shape of machinery, equipment, etc across Pakistan on the NHA network as well as the provincial road network on receiving request from provinces, NDMA, PDMA for restoration of traffic.

The NHA mobilised its resources on damaged locations on provincial highways under operational emergency through direct contracting, in accordance with the provision of the PPRA Rule and its field staff worked round the clock with required machinery and ensured restoration of traffic on all damaged sections within the minimum possible time.

The Ministry of Communications added that the construction of detours, restoration of breached sections and removal of landslides with heavy machinery was carried out.

While taking into consideration the importance of the maintenance work, it was proposed that the expenditure incurred on operational emergency works on provincial roads borne through the NHA road maintenance accounts be reimbursed upon the approval of a supplementary maintenance grant by the federal cabinet, the ministry added.

The ECC was informed that Planning Ministry has endorsed the proposal subject to the condition that the expenditure incurred should be verified and owned by the respective provincial governments and Finance Division has suggested that the NHA may sort out and settle the cost with the relevant provincial department, authorities and may meet the expenditure incurred on the restoration of federalized roads, bridges etc from its own road maintenance account.

The Prime Minister’s office desired that the Ministry of Communications should place the summary before the ECC after fulfilling all formalities including certifications, verifications of expenditure incurred on provincial roads by the respective provincial governments as advised by the Finance Division Planning Ministry.

The respective provincial departments verified that an expenditure amounting to Rs1.666 billion has been incurred by the NHA for the restoration of the provincial road network.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023