Opposition leader raises concern over M-9 detours

In a letter to NHA chief, Khursheed Shah draws attention to dangers caused by diversions

ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has written a letter to the National Highway Authority chairman, deploring the condition of temporary diversion roads created for the under construction Karachi-Hyderabad section of M-9 Motorway.

In the letter, Shah noted “with a heavy heart” the poor condition of the diversion roads along the under construction section of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and how they are causing trouble for motorists.



According to him, these “ill planned and poorly maintained” diversions have led to a large number of accidents apart from causing delays in commuting. The PPP lawmaker cited the example of the tragic road accident which occurred on Wednesday.

In March 2015, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had performed the groundbreaking of the section -- which is also a part of the eastern route of CPEC. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.

When contacted, M-9 general manager Tufail Sheikh said the NHA is making all possible efforts to address the issues that are causing problems to the commuters. He added that a few of those issues have been addressed.



The project is being built on a build, operate and transfer basis and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) is currently working on it.

Meanwhile, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed has also constituted a committee comprising MNAs and other political figures to analyse the issues. The panel will also compile a report in order to address the issues. The committee is expected to start work after Eid, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2016