NHA briefs NA body about ongoing projects

Committee showed displeasure on various tasks
KARACHI: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Communications meeting was held in NHA Auditorium with Saeed Ahmad Zafar in Chair, Members of the Standing Committee included Syed Alla-ud-Din, Capt Retd Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Khural, Sajjad-ul-Hassan, Capt Retd Muhammad Safdar, Abdul Majeed Khan Khanan Khalil, Dr Darshan, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Ghous Bux Khan Mahar whereas Minister for Communications, Secretary Communications and Chairman NHA attended the meeting.
The Standing Committee discussed various projects pertaining to National Highway Authority. The main agenda items were reconstruction of Hyderabad-Badin-Mirwah Sanjar Chang Road, Kot Abdul Malik Interchange, Lahore-Nankana Sahib Expressway and Lahore-Gujranwala Road.
The Minister for Communications, Secretary Communication and Chairman NHA briefed the Committee members on details of various projects.
The Committee was told that the project linking Hyderabad-Badin with Mirwah-Sanjar Chang Road was handed over to NHA by Sindh government. The road connects many cities of District Badin and Tando Allahyar and it also gives connectivity to many rice and sugar mills with major cities. The 50km road is being constructed by Messers Maqbool and Messers SARCO at cost of Rs1.1 billion and 13 per cent of the project has been completed. The NA Standing Committee was anxious about the increase in cost. Secretary Communication told that the increase in width of the road from 5.5 meter to 6.1 meter and the International Standard of the road has resulted in increased cost of the project with asphalt. The chairman apprised that the 1st part of 24km will be completed in 6 months period.
Chairman NA Standing Committee showed displeasure over not opening the Kot Abdul Malik interchange and directed that it should be opened from Monday for the Traffic. Chairman NHA briefed Saeed Ahmad Zafar on the ground situation. He told that the interchange has been constructed with a cost of Rs200 million. 96 per cent of the work is completed and the 4 per cent remaining will soon be completed.
The Committee Members also discussed the Lahore-Nankana Sahib Expressway in detail. Chairman NA Committee said that the Expressway is very important and needs to start quickly. Chairman NHA told that the funds allocations issues have been resolved with the planning division. Minister Communication explained that a one-line budget will be given to NHA and it will prioritise the projects. He added that the NHA is also looking for foreign assistance for starting the construction work on Lahore-Nankana Sahib project.
The members of the committee also objected at the bad condition of Okara Bypass built by a local contractor. Chairman told that NHA has not taken over the road from the contractor due to the same reason. NA Standing Committee suggested that such contractors should not be given contracts in future.
The NA Standing Committee also discussed various other projects like Dargai-Kalm road, Saeed Wala Bridge and Burhan-Havalian Expressway. The Federal Minister for Communications assured the Committee Members that NHA is giving top priority to all these projects. He said that Government has allocated Rs800 million for land acquisition of Burhan-Havelian Expressway. He also assured that the Saeed Wala Bridge announced by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a very important link between South-North Punjab, will be soon taken up by NHA. -PR