Kashmir Highway widening: Ecnec approves revised cost of Rs4.7 billion

Army depot on planned route only obstruction.

ISLAMABAD:

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Thursday approved the Kashmir Highway widening project’s revised PC-1 of Rs4.689 billion.

On July 2, the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved the project and recommended it to Ecnec for final approval.

However, contrary to an unrealistic direction recently given by CDA Chairman to complete the project within three months, the date of completion has been mentioned as June 2014 in the revised PC-I.

The project includes construction of five lanes on both sides as well as a new bridge for additional carriageway.



The revised PC-I envisages improvement of existing two lanes and construction of three additional lanes on each side of the road. Among three additional lanes, one would be flexible pavement while two lanes would be rigid pavements, catering to the heavy traffic.

The original cost of the 11km highway from between Peshawar Morr to GT Road was Rs2.191 billion but owing to delays and some additional work, it escalated to Rs4.689 billion.

The government has also agreed to share half of the escalated cost. As per previous arrangements, the government was supposed to provide Rs1 billion for the project but now it will share around Rs2.35 billion in the total cost of the project.

The finance ministry has asked CDA to develop commercial areas on both sides of the highway to generate funds and to make the venture self-sustainable.



Similarly, a project of running monorail along the highway is also under consideration; however, an official of Engineering Wing said currently the authority would only focus on the construction of roads.

Encroachments

Though the authority, under new chairmanship, has ensured swift approval of the project, encroachments along the route of the highway are still a thorny issue yet to be dealt with.

A depot, where army vehicles are reassembled and auctioned, falls within the alignment of the highway.  “The whole road project was not awarded at once due to the existence of the army depot within the extension part,” an official said, adding that the 2-3 kilometres area of the depot is not being touched at the moment.

When contacted, the CDA chief said all major issues, including approval of the project from CDWP and Ecnec, have already been resolved and the issue of army depot would be settled through deliberation.

When asked if the authority would consider realigning the road if the army refuses to demolish the depot, Asif reiterated “The issue will be resolved through mutual understanding.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2013.