Frontier Works Organization (FWO) has unilaterally made an exorbitant increase in toll tax on Motorway, despite the reservations and opposition of National Highway Authority (NHA). This was revealed by Chairman NHA Shahid Ashraf Tarar while briefing the Senate Standing committee on Communication.
The committee met with Daud Khan Achakzai in the chair where serious reservations were expressed over the raise in toll tax for the third time in a short span of time. The committee also took note of the manhandling incident of the Motorway Police official who was beaten up by other law and order forces recently. Chairman NHA said that the Authority had opposed the increase in toll tax however, FWO still increased it.
Senators said that toll tax has been increased to Rs 580 for Lahore-Islamabad, while for Peshawar-Islamabad it has been increased to Rs 210 to Rs 280. Tarar informed the committee that the Ministry of Communication has taken note of the toll tax issue and a meeting in this regard is scheduled for October 3.
About the manhandling incident of a Motorway Police official; the committee was informed that a criminal case been registered while the issue has also been raised with the Communication Ministry. The committee members directed Inspector General to brief the committee on the issue in the next meeting.
Chairman NHA failed to satisfy the Parliamentarians over progress regarding CPEC projects. Chairman Committee directed NHA not to reflect projects funded by financial institutions, multilateral donors other than China in future and warned that Privilege Motion would be moved in case the directives are not followed.
Chairman NHA said that the Western alignment of CPEC in Balochistan province passes from 7 districts ie Sherani, Zhob, Kila Saifullah, Pishin, Quetta, Mastung and Kalat. The total length of project is 678.6 kilometer. The western alignment will be initially constructed as 4 lane dual carriage way. The land will be acquired as per standard of 6 lane limited access Motorway. The rough survey has been conducted by NHA land staff and revenue staff of concern districts.
The committee was informed the approximate cost for land acquisition has been calculated by all the 7 Deputy Commissioners of districts concerned, which comes to an amount of Rs 55.947 billion. Total land 15374 acres (approximate) will be involved in the project.
The case is taken up by the NHA with SMBR Balochistan with the request to issue directions to Deputy Commissioners concerned for early starting of land acquisition proceedings, the SMBR issued direction to the relevant District Management dated August 24, 2016.
The Zonal Land Officer Balochistan issued letters on 05.08.2016 to all Deputy Commissioners concerned of 7 seven districts to initiate joint survey/ measurement of land for land acquisition.
Chairman NHA also requested to Chief Secretary Balochistan for early completion of land acquisition process of the CPEC projects in Balochistan province as the project is of national importance. As soon as feasibility study and design is finalised, the land acquisition proceedings will be started, official added. The initial joint survey of "Zhob Bypass" which is also part of the CPEC has been completed by the NHA and revenue staff as per 6 lanes Motorway (100 Meter ROW). Notification has also been issued by Collector and further proceedings of land acquisition are under progress.