National Highway Authority (NHA) has planned to launch a Motorway Advisory Radio (MAR) system during current financial year 2009-10 under the public-private partnership, while the rationalisation of toll rates will also enhance NHA's revenue by around Rs 1,800 million in financial years 2009-10.
According to official report, the MAR system will benefit the pedestrians that will ultimately be extended to the national highways, which will provide updated information regarding fog/low visibility of areas and suggest precautionary measures regarding traffic congestion and incidents/accident.
According to NHA's report, the government has recognised transport infrastructure as a prerequisite for sustained economic growth and planned to enhance road density from 0.32 to 0.64 km/km² to develop the country as a hub of sub-regional connectivity through consolidation and upgradation of existing assets, Linkages with Gwadar, high speed N-S economic corridor and upgradation of existing highways. NHA report revealed that the National Trade Corridor (NTC) initiative is envisaging an investment programme of Rs 325 billion, to be completed by 2017-18 through financial support of various development partners.
THE AIM, OBJECTIVE AND TARGETS OF NTC PROGRAMMES ARE:
-- Upgrading capacity, extending the network, and modernising the national highways along the North-South (N-S) NTC through a network of high speed access controlled expressways / motorways.
-- Improving trade by 10 per cent decrease in road transport costs and 50 per cent reduction in travel time.
-- Besides paying attention to N-S Connectivity, NHA is also giving equal attention on improving East-West linkages. NHA has also introduced the concept of tunnels on different roads for fast/smooth traffic flow.
NHA report revealed that the transport network also includes more than 5,000 bridges, interchanges and flyovers and about 15,000 culverts. Around 75 per cent of NHA network is 2-lane, 20 per cent is 4-lane and 5 per cent is 6-lane. Substantial portion of this network has reached or is reaching its capacity and will be excessively overburdened within the next five years.
NHA is currently meeting maintenance costs primarily through toll and some maintenance grant by the government. Development of the network is entirely through external financing. Maintenance cost is increasing, whereas toll rates were kept at the level of 1999 till October 2008, therefore lack of funds creating substantial maintenance backlog. Funds for development of NHA network are allocated by Government of Pakistan through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Keeping in view socio-economic requirements of the country and with the aim of integrating various regions with main national highway arteries, the government is augmenting NHA network regularly through federalisation of various provincial links and construction of new links.
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