ISLAMABAD: Construction work on Hassanabdal-Mansehra Expressway ( E-35) could not be started due to revision of land acquisition policy by Asian Development Bank (ADB), which entails heavy payments to land owners over & above the cost established by District Revenue Officers.
An official of the National Highway Authority (NHA) told APP Monday that payment of additional amount was difficult due to additional financial burden on Public Sector Development Plan (PSDP) and being in contradiction to the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1894.
He said that another reason for delay in the commencement of work is delay in approval of PC-1, which has been cleared by Central Development Working Party (CDWP) but Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) nod was still awaited.
The NHA has planned to construct Hassanabdal-Mansehra Expressway (E-35) in two phases. The 110-km long project would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 47 billion and Asian Development Bank would provide financial assistance for realization of the project.
In the first phase 57 km Hassanabdal-Havelian section will be built while in the second phase 52 km Havelian-Mansehra section will be constructed. He said that the expressway will be completed in three years and this project will not only open new avenues of progress but will also facilitate trade, tourism and agriculture sectors of the areas.
He said that bypasses have been constructed in Mansehra, Hassanabdal, Haripur, Havelian and Abbotabad to integrate them with this important highway. He said that after construction of E-35, huge traffic load on Karakoram Highway would be eased. Karakoram Highway was constructed to meet the needs of six to seven thousands vehicles, whereas currently over 20,000 vehicles ply on this road daily, he added.
The project was discussed in ECNEC on Sept 13 which issued directives that the cost of project should be updated and it should be resubmitted the for ECNEC approval,he added.
He informed that Package-II of Phase-I.e. Jarikas-Sarai Saleh section was ready for construction purpose subject to the conditions of resettlement as imposed by the ADB.
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