ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved proposals in the areas of transport and communication, energy and water sector. According to a presser, the meeting was chaired on Wednesday by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. In consideration of proposal from the Ministry of Communications, ECNEC approved land acquisition for Faisalabad Abdul Hakeem Motorway M-4 (138 km) at a revised cost of Rs 4,220.872 million. The project envisages acquisition of 3,139.5 acres of land for construction of 138 km long, 4-lane Faisalabad – Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-4) having right of way (ROW) corridor of 100m. ECNEC also considered and approved project regarding Improvement and Construction of Jalkhad-Chilas Road at revised total cost of Rs 7,605.205 million. ECNEC accorded approval for the project for dualisation and improvement of existing N-50 from Yarik-Sagu-Zhob, including Zhob Bypass (210 km) at a total cost of Rs 76,486.231 million. The project envisages construction of 210km 4-lanes controlled access highway starting from Yarik on N-55 to Zhob on N-50 via Sagu, Daraban, Mughal Kot, Manikhuwa as part of western route of CPEC. Proposal for Rehabilitation of NHA Highway KKH (N-35) between Thakot-Raikot damaged due to unprecedented monsoon rains and flash floods in 2010, was also approved by ECNEC at a total cost of Rs. 8,341.136 million. The proposal for construction of 2-lane highway from Basima to Khuzdar (106 km) was approved at a cost of Rs 19,188.435 million. The project aims at construction of 106 km two-lane road to a standard 7.3m wide single carriageway with 2.5m shoulders on either side from Basima to Khuzdar on new alignment at a distance of 100m from the edge of the shoulder of existing road. The project also includes land acquisition, construction of bridges, culverts, retaining structures, drainage and erosion works along with allied facilities. ECNEC accorded approval for Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System Karachi, from KESC Power House Chowrangi (Abdullah Chowk), Surjani to Central Business District, Karachi at a revised total cost of Rs 24,604.060 million. The upward revision in cost is due to increase of length of corridor from 17.80 km to 27.45 km, increase in number of stations from 22 to 35, and increased length of elevated portion from 3.45 km to 9.4 km. The project aims at construction of 27.45 km long (18.05 km at grade & 9.40 km elevated) 2-lanes, each lane 3.5m wide, dedicated signal free Bus Rapid Transit System. The project would benefit 400,000 passengers every day in Karachi. The proposal regarding dualisation of Indus Highway N-55 Sarai Gambila to Kohat Section, was also approved by ECNEC at a cost of Rs 30,130.00 million. Under the project dualisation of existing 128 km long two lane (7.3m wide) Indus Highway (N-55) from Sarai Gambila to Kohat would be carried out to make it a 4-lanes facility. ECNEC approved proposal of Ministry of Water and Power for 500 kV Chakwal Substation at a revised cost of Rs 6,709.66 million. The project envisages installation of new 500 kV sub-station at Chakwal along with associated transmission lines to meet the growing demand of the areas including Chowan Saidan Shah, Gujar Khan, Dandot, Pinanwal, Talagang, Tamman, Padshahan and Chakri under the jurisdiction of IESCO. ECNEC approved proposal for the 7th Secondary Transmission Line and Grid Stations (GEPCO), covering 6 districts of Punjab i.e. Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin, at a total cost of Rs 7,528.06 million. The project for evacuation of power from 2x660MW Thar coal-based SSRL/SECL Power Plant was approved by ECNEC at a revised total cost of Rs 21,782.99 million. ECNEC also approved project for enhancement in transformation capacity of NTDC system by extension and augmentation of existing grid stations, covering 28 districts, at a total cost of Rs 16,526.49 million. The project for evacuation of power from 2x1100MW K-2/K-3 Coastal Power Plant near Karachi was also approved by ECNEC at revised total cost of Rs 7,501.4 million. Objective of the project is evacuation of 2x1100MW power from K-2/K-3 nuclear power plants to the national grid. ECNEC considered and approved proposal regarding Compensation to affectees of Mirani Dam (EL-264 to 271.4 for houses and EL-245 to 271.4 for fruit and non-fruit plants) at a cost of Rs 3,500 million, to be borne by the federal government and Government of Balochistan on a 50:50 basis. ECNEC also approved the project for construction of infrastructure and allied works for Metro Bus Services Peshawar Mor-New Islamabad Airport at a total cost of Rs 16,427.880 million. The project envisages construction of 25.6Km long dedicated 2-lanes signal free corridor of 9.60~10.40 meter width with normal sections for Bus rapid transport system, to connect the already-constructed Metro bus station at Peshawar Mor to the new airport. ECNEC also considered and approved proposal for preliminary design study of upgrading/ rehabilitation of Main Line (ML-I) and construction of New Dry Port / Cargo Handling Facility at Havelian (Baldher), district Haripur at a cost of Rs 10,641.634 million.