Hassanabdal-Havelian Motorway cannot be completed before December 2017 due to heavy rains. This was informed by National Highway Authority (NHA) to a parliamentary panel.
The NHA was making serious efforts to complete the 60-km Hassanabdal-Havelian section of E-35 by August 2017, but due to heavy rains the project is now expected to be completed by December 2017, said Authority’s officials while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communication. The committee met with Engineer Hamid-ul-Haq in the chair to discuss progress on Peshawar Northern Bypass, Lowari Tunnel and Hassanabdal-Thakot Motorway projects.
The committee recommended for keeping Lowari Tunnel open during the upcoming winter season for traffic. The committee also directed for expediting work on Peshawar Northern Bypass and stated that no further delay in the project completion would be acceptable. Lowari Tunnel will remain operational for traffic during coming winter. The NHA should complete work on Hassanabdal-Havelian Motorway. Delaying in completion of Peshawar Northern Bypass will not be acceptable, the committee said.
The committee was informed that Hassanabdal-Havelian Motorway will be operational by December 2017. The committee directed to the Communication Ministry for completion of project on time. The committee also directed for timely completion of Havelian–Mansehra and Mansehra–Thakot sections.
The NHA officials said that construction of Peshawar Northern Bypass has been divided into 4 phases: The phase-1 that is from M-1 to Charsadda has already been completed. The remaining work on other phases will be completed on time as work is in process, they added.
The committee was further informed that Topi–Swabi–Mardan Road is 62-km long and connects important cities and six districts to Peshawar. The public is facing problems because it is one-line road. The committee advised to connect this road with Grand Trunk Road and check the possibilities for making it dual road on “built, operate and transfer (BOT)” basis. The committee appointed Usman Khan Tarkai to get latest update from provincial government on the project.
