Rs18. billion to be spent on Chitral-Gilgit road - Fund approved

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Federal minister for communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan told a meeting of National Highway Authority (NHA) here that the governments of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan have requested the federal government to take up construction of 370 km strategic Chitral-Gilgit road.

He said land sliding and other natural disasters on KKH have at times landlocked Gilgit-Baltistan and this new road will provide another access to that area. It will be constructed at a cost of approx. Rs 18 billion, he added. The NHC approved the federalisation of Chitral-Gilgit road as an alternative route to the Gilgit-Baltistan. 

The NHC meeting also recommended the federalisation of 55 km Sidhar Bypass Chowk (Faisalabad) to Chiniot More (Jhang) Road. The NHC deferred some other proposals of federalisations of the roads to the next meeting. It suggested that those proposals be considered keeping in view the financial resources of NHA. NHC was of the view that NHA should federalise the roads, which are within its resources. Federalisation of network and then their maintenance will be a financial burden on NHA’s limited resources. The members observed that in the new financial policy, provinces are being given more resources and they should be encouraged to take up their projects themselves.

The Federal Minister said that privatisation of toll collection will bring transparency in the system and it would increase the resources of NHA. He also directed to explore avenues for installing E-Tolling system on all toll plazas.

NHC approved creation of a new office of NHA in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) owing to the growing needs of the National Highway Authority in the region. NHC was told that NHA maintains 623 kms of road network in the GB region and it needs a separate setup for this purpose. Council also approved the renaming of RCD Highway as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Road and the project allowance of NHA employees.

Established through an Act of Parliament 1991, as amended in 2001, NHC is the highest policy making body of NHA. It controls, directs and regulates the affairs of NHA. It constitutes of Minister for Communications as President of the council, Secretary Finance, Secretary P&D, Secretary Communications and two professionals in highway construction & management and finance & accounts (nominated by the President NHC) as members. Chairman NHA acts as Secretary to the National Highway Council.


Source - http://www.groundreport.com/Business/Fund-approved-for-Chitral-road/2932836