PESHAWAR, May 7: The federal government has released Rs1.88 billion to the National Highway Authority (NHA) for early completion of Peshawar’s Northern Bypass Road, the Peshawar High Court was told on Tuesday.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Ms Musarrat Hilali directed the NHA to immediately initiate work on Phase 2 and 3 of the project by pressing into service emergency provisions of the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring property for it.

The bench warned the NHA to complete that process within two to three months otherwise it would be answerable to the court.

At the outset of proceedings, deputy secretary of Finance Division Mohammad Hamid Khan produced a letter of the division of May 3, 2013, according to which in compliance with the high court orders Rs1.88 billion had been released to the NHA for incurring expenses on the Northern Bypass Road.

Last month the court had directed the secretaries of finance and planning divisions to release the required funds for completion of Northern Bypass Road within two weeks in compliance with earlier orders, failing which they would be proceeded against for contempt of court.

The court has taken suo motu notice of the issue a few months ago after delay in completion of the project.

Legal advisor of NHA Sikander Irfan informed the bench that the amount mentioned in the letter had been released to the NHA. The bench fixed June 11 for next hearing of the case.

The chief justice observed that in its earlier order on Feb 27 the court had explained the importance of this project, especially in the wake of growing trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and Central Asian States.

About completion of work on two underpasses on Peshawar-Torkham Highway at Tehkal and Jehangirabad, the Peshawar Development Authority’s legal advisor Mansoor Tariq submitted a letter sent by the PDA to NHA, requesting for provision of funds for early completion of the underpasses. He stated that the road had now been completely opened to traffic and the construction work was in final stages.

Meanwhile, the bench expressed displeasure over not taking any step by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary regarding the court order for installation of digital vehicle scanners for detecting explosive substances so as to reduce the number of security barricades for easing flow of traffic on major roads of Peshawar.

The bench directed the chief secretary to convene a meeting of provincial home secretary and other relevant officials to discuss whether the suggestion put forward by the court was feasible if such scanners were bought.

The court had issued the orders in a writ petition filed by former secretary general of PHC Bar Association Mohammad Essa Khan, challenging the setting up of security barricades in Peshawar.

Additional advocate general Ms Neelum Khan stated that the court order had been sent to the SSP (traffic). The bench asked how it could be sent to the traffic police as for installation of such scanners a high-level meeting would be required, which was not the mandate of traffic police.

DSP (traffic) Mohammad Ali Bogra informed the bench that they had received the orders, but as huge expenses were involved it was the duty of provincial government to install the scanners.

Deputy attorney general Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand informed the bench that in accordance with its earlier orders several steps were taken at one of the major security checkpoints of army near Gora Qabristan, which had helped in easing flow of traffic.

The bench observed that the installation of scanners would ensure safety and security of the provincial capital besides helping in doing away with the miseries of commuters including patients, children and women, who had to suffer for long duration due to manual checking by the law-enforcement agencies.