339km Peshawar-DI Khan motorway

[Mike571]

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday approved the construction of 339 kilometers long multibillion rupees Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan motorway.

The development came during the chief minister’s meeting with lawmakers from the region at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here.

Spokesman for the government Ajmal Wazir and state minister for States and Frontier Regions Shehryar Afridi told reporters that the mega project not only promised better connectivity of the region with the rest of the province but also integrated border crossing situated in merged districts with the main centres of the province.

Mr Wazir said the motorway, which would begin from Chamkani area of Peshawar, pass through Darra Adamkhel, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank, and end in DI Khan, would lead to the development of southern districts.


Minister says Rs250bn initiative promises uplift in southern, merged districts

He said the meeting discussed the alignment of 339 kilometers long motorway, which would have 15 interchanges to provide economic opportunities for populated and least developed areas alike.

The spokesman said the chief minister directed the relevant authorities to finalise the interchange locations in consultation with the people’s representatives.

He said the route would lead to better integration of merged districts with other parts of province.

Mr Wazir said the government had planned the 24/7 opening of the Ghulam Khan border crossing in North Waziristan district and Angor Adda border crossing in South Waziristan district on the pattern of Torkham crossing point.

He said the government has approved the project and its feasibility would be done later.

The spokesman said work on the dualisation of the Indus Highway was underway with the chief minister ordering its early completion.

He said the construction of both roads would bring development to the region.

Mr Wazir said both Hazara and Swat motorways were complete and that they would integrate the province.

Health minister Hasham Inamullah, who was also in attendance, said though the detailed design of the proposed motorway had yet to be finalised, the project’s initial cost had been estimated to be around Rs250 billion.

Safron minister Shehryar Afridi said the successive governments ignored southern districts to the misery of the residents.

He said the residents, too, had the right to the state’s resources.

Mr Afridi said the 339 kilometers long motorway would link all southern districts and merged districts and boost the region’s economy bringing it on par with the rest of the country.

He said the road project would change the fate of those deprived and ignored areas.

A statement issued here quoted the chief minister as directing the authorities concerned to finalise the interchanges plan in consultation with the people’s representatives from southern districts.

He said the motorway was a flagship project of the government for southern districts, which would pave the way for the region’s development and provide rapid travel facility to people.

The meeting was briefed about alignment options for the proposed motorway, its design parameters, objectives, interchanges and tunnels, coverage of various districts and suburbs and other important aspects of the project.

The chief minister said the project would provide rapid transportation facilities and promote tourism and trade in the region.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2019

 

[AsifIjaz]

Mr Wazir said the motorway, which would begin from Chamkani area of Peshawar, pass through Darra Adamkhel, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank, and end in DI Khan, would lead to the development of southern districts.
Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2019

A very bad allignment idea... Other than hangu the rest of the above mentioned cities have decent road network via Indus highway nearby which itself is being dualized since long. A better impact would be to dualize indus highway at war footings. If one has to make a motorway for the sparsely populated areas then make it 4 lane and allign it more towards banu so that it becomes a
peshawar- Hangu- banda khatak, Bannu (towards miran shah road or at least near tableeghi jamat ground) - cross afghan side of mulla zae - Taank - koulachi - gomal univ Dera ismail khan.

The route should be selected based in mind current connectivity options and benefit to the area not merley the power or big cities.
1... The benefit of the proposed route..
Open access and direct route to barren land of bara, orakzai agency, hangu and tank districts
2... Will enter and run alongside previous south wazirisan agency thus providing access to the backward areas infested by taliban earlier and the area proven to be good for olive cultivation.
3.. Ending towards gomal University will benefit bhakar which will be within an hrs drive
4... Future expansion to quetta via loralai or zhob more beneficial as thi will again open virgin barren land

 

[Mike571]

A very bad allignment idea... Other than hangu the rest of the above mentioned cities have decent road network via Indus highway nearby which itself is being dualized since long. A better impact would be to dualize indus highway at war footings. If one has to make a motorway for the sparsely populated areas then make it 4 lane and allign it more towards banu so that it becomes a
peshawar- Hangu- banda khatak, Bannu (towards miran shah road or at least near tableeghi jamat ground) - cross afghan side of mulla zae - Taank - koulachi - gomal univ Dera ismail khan.

Yeah i think it would make more sense if they go for a motorway from Peshawar to Quetta (then onward to Gwadar), As apart from providing a direct route between provisional capitals it can also be used to uplift these areas out of extreme powerty and fata will be fully integrate

 

[Kabira]

A very bad allignment idea... Other than hangu the rest of the above mentioned cities have decent road network via Indus highway nearby which itself is being dualized since long. A better impact would be to dualize indus highway at war footings. If one has to make a motorway for the sparsely populated areas then make it 4 lane and allign it more towards banu so that it becomes a
peshawar- Hangu- banda khatak, Bannu (towards miran shah road or at least near tableeghi jamat ground) - cross afghan side of mulla zae - Taank - koulachi - gomal univ Dera ismail khan.

The route should be selected based in mind current connectivity options and benefit to the area not merley the power or big cities.
1... The benefit of the proposed route..
Open access and direct route to barren land of bara, orakzai agency, hangu and tank districts
2... Will enter and run alongside previous south wazirisan agency thus providing access to the backward areas infested by taliban earlier and the area proven to be good for olive cultivation.
3.. Ending towards gomal University will benefit bhakar which will be within an hrs drive
4... Future expansion to quetta via loralai or zhob more beneficial as thi will again open virgin barren land

Routes you mention are more mountainous? That can play huge role in cost of motorway.

 

[AsifIjaz]

Routes you mention are more mountainous? That can play huge role in cost of motorway.

welll the same was true for mansehra motorway and other in Pakistan. If only cost was the deciding factor then the best route would be near to indus highway but the more the proposed motorway is near to the indus highway the less its impact and possible removal of sense of depreviation amongst the areas near western borders. The route proposed is mostly away from indis highway and it passes through barren virgin land. In 10 years the small towns around the motorway will have the same uplift as the ones around M2.

 

[Kabira]

welll the same was true for mansehra motorway and other in Pakistan. If only cost was the deciding factor then the best route would be near to indus highway but the more the proposed motorway is near to the indus highway the less its impact and possible removal of sense of depreviation amongst the areas near western borders. The route proposed is mostly away from indis highway and it passes through barren virgin land. In 10 years the small towns around the motorway will have the same uplift as the ones around M2.

The way I see it is that this motorway will be closer to tribal districts, well west of indus highway. Looking at geography, one just need good connectivity roads, interchanges and not necessarily build motorway in the middle of ex-FATA.

 

[AsifIjaz]

The way I see it is that this motorway will be closer to tribal districts, well west of indus highway. Looking at geography, one just need good connectivity roads, interchanges and not necessarily build motorway in the middle of ex-FATA.

Exactly... Thts the point of my post earlier as well... This motorway if required needs to have a western alignment. The impoverished and a poor peopleof those areas need a chance to fight for a better life. They are atleast 2 decades behibd rest of kpk.