Chairman, National Highway Authority (NHA), Major General Imtiaz Ahmad has said that the authority had completed feasibility studies for construction of additional tunnel at Kotal and Khushalgarh Bridge, Kohat to further ease traffic on Indus Highway.
Briefing a high-level meeting regarding road network development in the province under NHA, he said that Torkham-Jalalabad Additional Carriageway has been formally launched which will further ease the traffic beyond the border.
Governor NWFP Lieutenant General Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai (Retd) and Caretaker Chief Minister Shams-ul-Mulk attended the briefing held at Governor's House here on Tuesday. Other who attended the meeting included NWFP Minister for Works and Services, Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor and additional chief secretaries of both the province and Fata.
Similarly, he added, effective measures are underway to further improve the facilities on newly completed Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway to make it more beneficial for the people.
Speaking on the occasion, both the governor and the chief minister said that all the projects, under the execution of NHA are of vital importance from every aspect and demand extra considerations to complete them at the earliest not only to ease the people to have better transport facilities but also ensure rapid development of the respective areas.
They particularly mentioned Peshawar Northern Bypass and the Peshawar-Torkham Expressway projects and agreed upon the adoption of concrete and futuristic approach not only to ensure early launching of both the projects but also making them durable and beneficial for the people. Similarly, the pace of progress on the Nowshera-Mardan-Chakdara-Chitral road, upgradation of Karakurram Highway, especially its Hassanabdal-Havelian-Mansehra sections as well as improvement of Mansehra-Naran-Jhalkhad Road especially its further extension to Chilas also came under consideration and it was noted that efforts are underway to ensure timely completion of the projects.
The meeting welcomed the successful launching of Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway project on this occasion and certain measures were considered to make it more beneficial for commuters. It noted with satisfaction that all out cooperation is being extended at every level by the provincial government to the respective quarters of National Highway Authority for ensuring smooth implementation of its projects in the province.
The meeting also decided to constitute a task force, comprising representatives of all the concerned departments to ensure proper institutionalised arrangement in this respect. Similarly, it was further decided that the Additional Chief Secretary, Javed Iqbal and the Secretary, Law and Order, Arbab Muhammad Arif will ensure all out cooperation to NHA to help in implementation on its projects in Fata, especially in respect of Peshawar-Torkham Expressway.