ADB SET TO FINANCE KP ROAD PROJECTS
THE Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak said that his government was all set to formally inaugurate the Bus Rapid Transit Project in the month of November this year and he had already directed for preparedness as the project would be completed by December, 2017. He appreciated the Asian Bank Country Director for his bank timely assistance for putting on ground the mega project for Peshawar.
He was talking to the Country Director, Asian Development Bank, who assured that the Bank was appreciative of the timely initiation and completion of the bus rapid transport project in Peshawar. He gave his assurance that the project would kick off in November.
The Bank funding would be available even before the commencement of work on the project. The Asian Bank would arrange 85% of the total cost amounting to Rs.15 billion of projects in communication sector that the provincial government had already reflected in the ADP.
The Asian Development Bank would help out the provincial government projects under the “Provincial Road Rehabilitation Project”. The project would cost Rs 15 billion and would rehabilitate and reconstruct different roads of upto 500 KM of length in different districts throughout the province.
The Chief Minister remarked that his government had already pulled up its sleeves for different projects on public welfare as his government could not afford any delay in these projects.
Engr. Muhammad Uzair, the Managing director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority, gave a detailed sketch of the entire road communication network.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of connecting Mardan with Swabi through a dualization of existing connectivity and said that it needed to be connected in view of the Swat Motorway, which would open up remote areas to expeditious development.
Pervez Khattak said he was for a comprehensive road communication network and the main arteries connecting two or more districts in the province were of prime importance for his government. Communication speeds up development and prosperity, he added. He said that his government would not go slow on projects in road communication and had taken care of the multiple risks.
The Asian Development Bank would provide 85% of the total cost of the project as ADP support loan. The provincial government would put its share in the project as 15% of the total 15 billion being spent on the provincial road rehabilitation project under ADP.
The Asian Development Bank Country Director agreed to revisit the time line and expedite the process of loaning for the project.
The Chief Minister directed to sketch out a comprehensive design for Abbottabad and Kohat Bypasses and other bypasses in different districts of the province.
The Chief Minister directed for the fastest track approach with the realistic timeline in order to complete these projects as expeditiously as possible.