PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Council on Tuesday approved Rs1.672 billion annual maintenance plan of Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA) for year 2021-22.

A statement issued here said that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the council’s meeting and directed the PKHA officials to submit a detailed report on funds allocated to it during last year along with maintenance work done.

Of the Rs1.672 billion maintenance plan, Rs1.2 billion would be provided by the provincial government and Rs472 million by PKHA from its own resources. The funds would be utilised to ensure proper maintenance of 3,000 kilometres roads and highways all over the province besides rehabilitation of flood-affected roads, construction of new toll plazas and other operational work.

The statement said that after detailed discussion on PKHA’s proposed budget for the financial year 2021-22, the council recommended that it should be presented to provincial cabinet for final approval.

The meeting decided in principle to make necessary amendments in the PKHA Act to authorise the council to approve its annual budget on the analogy of other autonomous bodies of the provincial government. The authorities concerned were directed to present the amendments to the provincial cabinet for consideration.

The meeting decided to put in place an effective mechanism to control overloading of freight vehicles on PKHA-managed highways. The departments concerned were directed to sit together and evolve a strategy to this end.

The council also approved provincialisation of four different roads to ensure their better management and maintenance that include 35 kilometres Sheringal-Patrak, 126 kilometres Topi-Buner, 85 kilometres Thakot-Darband and 61 kilometres Bannu-Miranshah roads.

The meeting also approved creation of new posts to strengthen PKHA and increase its capacity. The meeting was briefed about the new projects of roads and highways included in Annual Development Programme under PKHA.

The meeting was informed that six highway projects having a total cost of more than Rs6 billion were reflected in the current ADP. Two major road projects under PKHA have also been included in Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) including dualisation of Bannu-Miranshah Road and improvement of Thal-Parachinar Road to be completed at a total cost of Rs8.6 billion.

The chief minister directed the relevant officials to ensure progress on the new road projects and completion of the ongoing projects within the stipulated time.

He said that government was spending huge resources on various projects of highways and roads to provide quality transportation facilities to people. He added that timely completion of those projects should be ensured at all costs.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2021