Hazara Motorway to be fully operational by end of the year

Two sections of Hassanabdal-Havelian motorway likely to be completed by September

Construction work Hassanabdal-Havelian motorway, commonly known as Hazara Motorway, is in full swing, and it would become fully operational by the end of this year, an official said.

National Highway Authority (NHA) spokesman Kashif Zaman told APP yesterday the first two sections namely Burhan-Jarikas and Jarikas-Sarai Saleh would be completed by end of August or early September.

The 20.4 kilometre Package-I starts from Burhan and ends at Jarikas, while the 19.2 kilometre Package-II starts from Jarikas and ends at Sarai Saleh.

He said construction work on the 19.4km Sarai Saleh-Havelian section started late, but was built at a fast pace.

He said the total length of Hazara Motorway from Hassanabdal of Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique yesterday said no compromise will be made with the lives of passengers, and no one will be allowed to suspend train operations for their criminal demands.

He appreciated the efforts of PR officers, divisional superintendents and workers for their hard work to restore the system and welcomed those drivers who joined duty by rejecting calls of the striking drivers.

The minister assured that smooth train operations as per the schedule would be ensured within 24 hours.

Earlier, at midnight a group of drivers had announced the strike and refused to operate trains unless their demands were met — one of which included restoration of services of the six drivers who were found guilty for killing several people in dangerous accidents involving Awam Express, Zekriya Express and goods trains accidents. to Havelian would be 59.1km, adding the project would have five interchanges with toll plazas at entrance/exit points.

The official said with the completion of the motorway, the people of Hazara Division would be able to play an active role in trade, tourism, industry and agricultural sectors that would ultimately boost the country’s economy. It would thus open a new chapter in Pakistan’s progress and prosperity, he added.

The project will reduce the travel time from between Rawalpindi-Islamabad to Mansehra from 4 hours to two hours.

The project is being financed by the Asian Development Bank, along with a $90.7 million grant (Dh333 million) from the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif flagged off the construction of the project on November 29, 2014.