Daily Times

National Highway Authority Chairman Capt (r) Sikander Qayyum visited Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) and inspected all the rest areas, service areas and toll plazas located along M-5.

During the inspection, senior officers of NHA, Chinese contractors and all service areas and rest areas contractors were also present. Sikander Qayyum directed all the operators to improve the cleanliness there. He asked the relevant members of the National Highway Authority to visit service areas once a week. He said if cleanliness conditions are not improved then strict action will be taken as per terms and conditions of contract.

During the inspection, the chairman took feedback from the commuters at all service areas about the facilities and prices of food products. The public was satisfied with the quality and prices of the food items. He also inspected fuel facilities and construction work of the fuel stations buildings at Azampur and UCH Sharif Service Areas and instructed the company to complete the construction activities expeditiously. He also visited the traffic control center to observe the performance of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) system. During briefing, he expressed interest in checking overloaded vehicles through weigh in motion system and its recording at TCC center.

A day earlier, the NHA Chairman had visited the M-8 route from Khuzdar to Qubo Saeed Khan. He was accompanied by the Member West-Zone Mr. Shahid Ihsanullah and other NHA officials of Balochistan-South.

During the visit, the NHA chairman inspected the massive land sliding and damages occurred at several locations between Kohri to Wangu Hills Section Area of M-8 due to the current cyclonic rain storms in the months of August and September and observed that the road was temporarily restored by NHA and found to be operational for both the light and heavy vehicles. However, he further directed Member West-Zone Shahid Ihsanullah that there should be a permanent restoration of all the damages on M-8 on an emergent basis to provide a permanent relief to the road commuters.

The NHA chairman also showed concern over the non-completion of cutting work at KM-47 on M-8 and directed that the said cutting work should be resumed on an emergent basis and shall be completed on war-footing basis. The Member West Zone assured for immediate compliance of the same.