Federal Minister for Communications, Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Wednesday instructed the authorities concerned to speed up the process of land acquisition and distribution of compensation to the land owners for Hasanabdal-Hawalian-Mansehra Expressway (E-35), so that construction work could be started on the mega project.
The minister said that in addition to E-35, the government is considering launching two more projects in Hazara Division namely upgradation of Taxila-Khanpur-Haripur Highway and dualisation of Hasanabdal-Abbotabad-Mansehra Road. He expressed these views, while presiding over a high level meeting, which was also attended by Minister of State for Communications, Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, MNAs, MPAs from Hazara Division, Senior Joint Secretary Communications Mathar Niaz Rana, Member NHA Yousaf Ali Khan, Sabir Hussain, Iltamish and other high officials.
The Director Project E-35 while briefing the participants said for this project an amount of Rs 46.8 billion was being provided by Asian Development Bank. The Hasanabdal-Hawalian-Mansehra Road is 51 kms long and the Ecnec has approved Rs 2.9 billion for land acquisition out of which Rs 1.5 billion have been made available.
Project Director Jamal Nasir stated that distribution of money for land acquisition has been made to 34 villages out of 38. Dr Arbab Alamgir assured the parliamentarians from Hazara Division that the government is paying attention to the uplift of communications in their areas and all resources are being utilized.