Hazara Motorway inauguration date announced
Shares
Islamabad: Construction work of Hassanabdal-Havelian Motorway, commonly known as Hazara Motorway, is in full swing, and it would become operational by December.
An official of National Highway Authority (NHA) on Monday told that earlier it was planned to open first two packages namely Burhan-Jarikas and Jarikas-Sarai Saleh would be completed by end of September but due to heavy monsoon rains now the entire 59 km project would be opened in December.
It is pertinent to mention that the 20.4 kilometer Package-I,starts from Burhan and ends atJarikas while the 19.2 kilometer Package-II starts from Jarikas and ends at Sarai Saleh.
He said the construction work of 19.4 km Sarai Saleh-Havelian section started late but now it had reached an advanced stage.
He said the total length of Hazara Motorway from Hassanabdal to Havelian would be 59.1 km, adding the project would have five interchanges with toll plazas at their 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 from the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister, Muhammed Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the construction of the project on November 29, 2014.
The Hazara Motorway, also named as E-35, originates from Burhan on M-1 Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway and ends at Havelian. The 59-kilometre-long motorway will include six lanes and will be completed by this August.
