MIRPUR (AJK)
The National Highway Authority is contemplating linking Azad Jammu and Kashmir with Gilgit-Blatistan through the construction of a grand highway from Shonter in Neelam valley to Astore in GB, official sources said.Disclosing the plan, National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Hamid Ali Khan told media in Muzaffarabad that the proposed Shonter-Astore highway would help reduce the distance between AJK and GB by several hundred kilometre besides reduction in travelling time by over eight hours.He was flanked by AJK Works Secretary Fayyaz Ali Abbasi and other NHA senior officers including Member Operation Majeed Qadir and Project Director Tanveer Ishaq and officials of the Highway division of the AJK Public Works Department on the occasion."NHA intends to construct the Shounter-Astore Highway and the project will be launched after the formal approval by the government of Pakistan", the NHA chief pointed out. He stated that the NHA would act upon the decision whatever was taken by the government of Pakistan to this effect.The NHA chairman visited the AJK's capital city of Muzaffarabad on the special directives of the government of Pakistan to assess the situation caused due to the persistent land-sliding at the busiest Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road. The NHA has taken in hand the project for construction of 35-kilometer long Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road in two phases. The entire project of Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road will be completed by October this year.The NHA chief told that the first phase comprising 20-km portion of Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road from Kohala to Dulai was being constructed with the cost of Rs1,710 million. He said that in the second phase, the 15-km long portion of the road from Dulai to Muzaffarabad city would cost Rs982.761 million. The mega project also involve the construction of Rs433 million two major bridges on the seasonal nullahs at Dulai and Chattar Class on the road.Hamid Ali Khan said that the construction work on the Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road, of exceptional defensive importance, would be completed in the stipulated time. He said that the NHA was treating the construction and renovation of major roads and highways in AJK with exceptional importance and priority.To a question, the NHA chairman said that the NHA was determined to execute and complete new and ongoing road projects in various parts of AJK including Kohala-Muzaffarabad Road under Flood Emergency Reconstruction Programme.To another question, the NHA chief stated that the NHA was looking after and supervising a mega network of a total of 12,131 kilometre long roads and highways across Pakistan and AJK with special emphasis to ensure modern facilities of highways in AJK at par with rest of the country.