NHA completed four mega road infrastructure projects in 2019.

ISLAMABAD -- National Highway Authority (NHA) has been striving for up-gradation of road infrastructure projects in the country. Out of several ongoing NHA projects, four mega

projects including Lahore -Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-3), Sukkur-Multan Motorway

(M-5) Havelian-Mansehra section of Hazara Motorway and Shorkot-Khanewal section of Pindi Bhattian-Multan Motorway (M-4) were accomplished last year.

Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-3) was opened for traffic March 2019 and the cost of the 230-km-long M-3 stood at Rs 148.65 billion and it passes through districts of Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad,Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal.

The cities and towns located along M-3 include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Mangtanwala, Nankana Sahib, Bucheki,Jaranwala, Syedwala, Tandalyanlwala, Samundri, Mamon Kanjan,Muridwala, Toba Tek Singh, Rajana, Kamalia, Peer Mahal, Shorkot and Kot Islam.

Eight inter-changes, three service areas, 46 bridges, 60 underpasses, 201 cattle creeps and 705 culverts are built on M-3. Intelligent Transport System (ITS) has been installed on M-3,due to which it may be termed a model motorway.

In September last year, Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) , an important part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, was opened for traffic. Consisting of 6-lane, 392 km Multan-Sukkur Motorway has reduced travel time between Multan and Sukkur to a considerable extent.

The motorway would not only accelerate industrial growth but agricultural sector will also be benefited at large and it would pave the way for socio-economic uplift in south Punjab and Sindh.

About 39 km Havelian-Mansehra section of the 118-km-long Havelian-Thakot motorway project was opened for traffic on November last year.

The project has reduced the travel time...