The Faisalabad-Multan Motorway extension project will be inaugurated today (Saturday) with the cost of Rs 12 billion.
This Motorway (M-4) extension project which is mainly financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is being implemented by the National Highway Authority (NHA) under the supervision of the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), official source told APP on Friday.
The contract was awarded to M/s EKO-KRC (JV) while the design and supervision consultancy are with NESPAK in association with the EGC. The contract of the project was awarded on December 2, 2011, with a completion period of three years to M/s EKO-KRC (JV). It is a 4-lane, 57 kilometer project with 17 bridges, four interchanges, 267 pipe culverts, 28 subways, 13 underpasses and 120 km/hr designed speed.
The NHA offical said the project had been completed at a cost of Rs 12 billion against the initial estimated cost of Rs 12.937 billion. The official said that construction of the motorway would contribute towards the development of an environment, whereby the existing traffic and the traffic in the years to come, shall be catered for at an adequate level of service. This will result in benefits to the economy.
The proposed extension of M-4 is a part of (KLM) Karachi – Lahore Motorway Project – which additionally provides linkage of Multan city with the motorways. The proposed facility will also facilitate the traffic in Balochistan commuting through the National Highway N-70. The official said the extension of M-4 would reduce the traffic congestion particularly heavy vehicular traffic in Multan city and would serve as a bypass to the city for all kinds of traffic originating and destined for cities in Balochistan and Sindh.
The project would also help in fast movement of goods from Karachi port to central and northern areas of the country, surge in employment and business opportunities, reduction in travel time for passengers and reduction in vehicle operating cost, the official added.
