CPEC: NHA invites PM Imran Khan to inaugurate Western Route on December 16
Islamabad: National Highway Authority (NHA) has invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to inaugurate the Western Route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on December 16.
The Western Corridor comprises 292.5-kilometres- long four-lane motorway with 11 interchanges, 36 bridges, 119 underpasses, 33 flyovers and 398 culverts. Along with the motorway, 100 meters right of way has been developed on 62,900 kanals area.
The four-lane motorway, ready for inauguration, will connect the Hakla Interchange on M-1 Motorway to Dera Ismaeil Khan, the NHA said,
The NHA has requested the prime minister to attend the inauguration ceremony on December 16.
The project commenced in September, 2016. Its PC-1 cost was Pakistani Rs 110,208 million approved by the government on 7th November, 2016.
The Hakla Dera Ismaeil Khan Motorway was constructed in five packages. Package 1 is from Yarak to Rehmani Khel comprising 54.6 kms.
The Package II was from Rehmani Khel to Kot Belian with the length of 71.2 kms.
The Package III is spread over 52.5 kms and it spans from Kot Belian to Tarap. The Package IV is of 51.2 km length from Tarap to Pindi Gheb.
Lastly, Package V is from Pindi Gheb to Hakla with the length of 63 kms. The revised construction cost of constructing these packages is Rs90,702.97 million.
The project starts from Hakla on M-1 passes near Qutbal, Fatehjang, Pindigheb, Tarap, Sikandarabad, Daud Khel, Mianwali, crossing River Indus, Isa Kheil, Kundal, Abdulkhel, Paniyala and ends at N-55 (Indus Highway) near Yarak. This road may further connect with Sagu on N-50 as CPEC Western Route Corridor.
From Sagu onward upto Zhob/Quetta, the N-50 will be improved and dualized to facilitate Quetta and Waziristan traffic.
The D.I. Khan located at a junction of N-50, N-55 and Waziristan area, therefore, 292.5 km new CPEC Motorway facility between Islamabad to Dera Ismail Khan will be a new hub of business for the North Punjab, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhaw., Balochistan and Afghanistan.
