News
Construction work of M-9 to start soon
APP
ISLAMABAD - National Highways Authorities (NHA) will start physical work on Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) Project soon.
An official of NHA informed APP that the implementation on the M-9 project was priority of the authority and Sindh government has been facilitating NHA in administrative matters to ensure better, qualitative communication service to the people. He said that 136 km long Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway was an important project not only in the perspective to have better communication facilities to the people of both cities but is a part of Karachi-Lahore Motorway (KLM) project to facilitate the people of the entire country. To a question, he said that presently Super Highway was in dilapidated condition due to heavy traffic and expiry of its designed period. He said for repair and improvement of the highway, NHA approved periodic maintenance schemes under Annual Maintenance Plan (AMP) 2013-14 amounting to Rs 305.28 million.
It is worth to mention here that twice in the past few years the NHA awarded the contract to two firms on BOT basis but both failed to complete financial close as per conditions of the contract and their contracts were terminated. In September 2006, the Authority had signed a concession agreement for construction of the 136 km M-9 with Standard Construction but the contract was cancelled next year as the firm failed to complete financial close in time. In 2011, the NHA awarded the contract of construction of Carica-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) to Malaysian Construction Company Binapuri Holding, on BOT basis with concessionaire period of 28 years.
However, the NHA was forced to terminate the contact in September 2012 as the said firm failed to complete financial close in stipulated time. The Super Highway begins north of Carica at the end of Mohammad Ali Jinnah Road, near junction of Karachi Northern Bypass (also known as M-10). It is connected with the Karachi Northern Bypass with a trumpet interchange. Then it continues out of the city. From there it continues on a north-east track and forms a junction with the N-5 via a link road. The highway ends outside of Hyderabad, in the suburban town of Kotri with a cloverleaf interchange where it merges into the N-5. The M-9 Motorway will have seven interchanges, two service areas at the midway points and 16 toll plazas on entry and exit points.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk