With the completion deadline of the new Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) near Fateh Jang approaching fast the fate of the road linking the new airport with the twin cities still hangs in balance.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) was assigned the task of laying the road but is yet to decide between building a new road from Golra Toll Plaza or constructing a four kilometer new stretch from the Motorway Zero Point site leading straight to the airport.
According to an NHA official, the most practical route linking the new airport with Islamabad and Rawalpindi was the Kashmir Highway, built up to Zero Point of Islamabad-Lahore Motorway.
“The distance between Kashmir Highway Toll Plaza and the Motorway Zero Point is 12 kilometers. Another four kilometer long road is required to be built to extend the Kashmir Highway from Zero Point to the airport,” he explained.
According to some experts, no land acquisition putting additional burden on the public exchequer is involved.
Replying to a question, the official said that presently various plans were under consideration and the NHA would decide about the final plan after completion of feasibility study on the new road link.
The new airport is expected to become fully operational by June 2014 but it seems that the link road may not be ready by that time. When senior NHA officials and Member Planning were approached they said that they were not authorised except NHA spokesperson.
When contacted, neither the spokesperson nor the General Manager Design was ready to comment.
The Culprit behind the new design is Riaz Thekadar.
Really so sad, the projects of such a important nature is getting delayed just because of personal interest rather than a National interest, i think NHA should play a major role if their intentions are right, we should b ashamed of ourselves for having such types of issues.
no airport in mirpur azad kashmir yet is this good? and no mc donald,kfc,pizza hut. is this is love from pakistan?
NHA is going to follow the earlier planned link road from new zero point straight to the airport. i wish they start working now.
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