Additional toll infrastructures on various locations of motorway has irked the commuters by and large who say that undue interference has defeated the idea of fastest access to desired destinations. According to the commuters, they are forced to pay separately for M1, M2 and M3 before leaving the exit point on motorway. Also, they said, the prime difference between the highways and motorway was the absence of toll plaza ahead of every city but additional plazas on M1, M2 and M3 has negated it altogether.
The commuters having deposited advanced amounts through E-tag are also supposed to wait for long to cross these additional toll plazas, they added. They said the National Highways Authority (NHA) has placed toll plazas at the turning point of M2 (Lahore-Islamabad) towards M3 (Lahore-Faisalabad). Initially, they added, the toll plaza was erected next to the turning point that resulted into a great hassle to the commuters as the vehicles stuck up at the turning point soon after leaving the M2 for M3.
Accordingly, the plaza was shifted to a few yards ahead but still long queues of vehicles, wagons, trucks and buses are resulting into undue delay of 40 t0 45 minutes in reaching Faisalabad. The users of M3 said it is not understandable that why a toll plaza has been erected in the middle of route as the commuters are supposed to pay service fee before leaving the M3.
The motorway - which is 4.6 percent of the total road network - along with the national highways carries 80 percent of Pakistan's total traffic. Currently, it is accounting for 90 percent of national passenger traffic and 96 percent of freight. Road transport is a key component of the economic and social development process.
There is a strong correlation between the kilometer travelled and Gross National Product (GNP). Effective and efficient road transport lowers input prices and, hence, production costs can lead to greater economic well being. Improvement in the quality of service provision increases personal nobility and facilitates economic growth. These, in turn, contribute towards social development and particularly assist in reducing poverty.
When contacted, the NHA sources said the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has erected this plaza. They said the FWO was not sharing details regarding traffic count and other technical aspects despite repeated requests. Similarly, they added, the FWO has also erected a plaza in middle of Islamabad and Peshawar interchange. The NHA sources said 20 letters have been written to FWO but no avail. However, no one from the FWO responded to repeated calls for their point of view.