Upgrade work in progress in Balochistan: NHA

Funds have been allocated for various projects in PSDP

ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA) was underway to upgrade and expand infrastructure in Balochistan on priority basis in order to bring the province on par with developed areas of the country.

Talking to APP on Friday, an official of NHA confirmed that Rs6,000 million has been allocated in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2019-20 for the construction of Zhob-Kuchlak Road under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

“Rs3,000 million has been issued out of the total allocated amount,” said the official.

Briefing on other development projects, he said, Rs2,000 million has been allocated in PSDP for construction of highway from Basima to Khuzdar. Out of the total amount, Rs1,000 million has been released so far, he added.

“The total cost of the project will be Rs19,188 million. However, Rs1,500 million has been spent on the project till June 30, 2019,” the official said.

The official also briefed on funds allocated for extension of 32 kilometres Rakhi-Gajj section of N-70.

“Total cost of the project is Rs22,994 million till June 30, 2019. Rs14,914 has already spent on the project. In 2019, Rs2,000 million has been allocated for the project in PSDP out of which Rs330 million has been issued so far,” he said.

He added that PSDP earmarked Rs1,000 million for Yakmach-Kharan Road in 2019 out of which Rs500 million has been released. The estimated cost of the project was Rs13,758 million out of which Rs3,406 million had been spent by the end of previous fiscal year.

Briefing on another project of the province, the official said, “The total cost of Yarik-Sagu-Zhob section of N-50 is Rs76,488 million. Rs2,972 million has been spent on the project till June 30, 2019. During the current fiscal year, Rs1,000 million has been set aside for the project out of which Rs500 million has been released.”

Another project under PSDP was the construction of 321 kilometre Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar section of Ratto Dero-Gwadar Motorway.

“Government had decided to upgrade Quetta-Dhadhar Section of N-65 for which Rs500 million has been allocated and out of which Rs250 million has been issued,” said the PSDP official.

The official added Rs250 million has been allocated for construction of Dera Murad Jamali Bypass out of which Rs125 million has been issued so far.

Briefing on improvement of remaining portion of National Highway N-25 Kararo-Wadh Section, the PSDP official said, “Rs350 million has been earmarked for the project out of which Rs175 million has been issued.”

For construction of Lak-pass-Noushki section, Rs1,500 million has been allocated, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2020.