K-P approves Rs1.9b for highways maintenance

Kalam-Mahodhand and Abbottabad-Beer roads included in provincial ambit

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government on Saturday approved over Rs1.9 billion for the construction and maintenance of highways in the province.

This was decided during the 19th meeting of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority’s (PKHA) council where it approved an Rs4.41 billion budget for the authority for the financial year 2020-21.

K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, who presided over the meeting, directed to ensure the authority’s annual maintenance plan is implemented within the identified timelines.

He further directed not to initiate any new construction work under the maintenance plan.

Earlier, participants of the meeting were briefed about the status of decisions taken in the last meeting of the council. It was informed that the PKHA was tasked with maintaining 46 highways across the province sprawling over 3,099 kilometres, including 383-km-long highways in the merged tribal districts.

The council decided to bring the 34km-long Kalam-Mahodhand Road and the 63km Abbottabad-Sherwan-Beer Road within the ambit of the province. The construction of these roads will help boost tourism activities as well as mining activities in the province, officials said.

Participants of the council approved PKHA’s annual maintenance plan A and B and directed the authority to move a summary in this regard.

Regarding the new development portfolio for the fiscal year 2020-21, of the PKHA, it includes the construction of a dual carriageway from Chamkani to Badhaber, construction of a flyover and underpass at Farooq Azam Chowk in Charsadda, a feasibility study and construction of the second phase of the Swat Expressway, feasibility study and construction of Kundian-Kalam Road and other projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2020.