A parliamentary panel Friday observed that several toll plazas are occupied by some influential persons who are not paying anything to National Highway Authority (NHA), causing huge loss to the national exchequer.
The sub-committee of Senate Standing Committee on Communications met here with Fida Mohammad in the chair and expressed serious concern over raise in toll rates every year. The committee sought details about revenue and expenditure on maintenance during the last three years.
The committee also observed that there are some areas where emergency funds were utilized on rehabilitations against the set criteria. The committee expressed serious concern over the incomplete papers.
Secretary Communication Jawwad Rafique Malik said that officials are bound to share documents and details when they are asked only in writing. The committee members came harsh and stated, "We also know rules of business."
The committee considered a starred question asked by Senator Mian Mohammad Ateeq Sheikh about the revenue collected from toll plazas on national highways and motorways during the period from 2013 to 2019, indicating also the amount utilized out of the same under the heads of routine and periodic maintenance and rehabilitation of NHA network in accordance with Road Maintenance Account (RMA) Rules; and (b) the amount utilized on the maintenance and rehabilitation of GT Road section from Lahore to Islamabad/Rawalpindi during the said period.
Senior officials of Communications Ministry and NHA informed the committee that there are a total of 76 toll plazas on highways across the country. Further it was informed that Rs 1.335 million were collected as fines at weight stations on highways and motorways due to overloading on the highways.
Weight stations are given on contract for one year. The total weight stations are 161, including 19 mobile stations. Weight stations on motorways are out of the loop. Overload vehicles cannot reach the motorway. The committee was told that M-9 did not meet the standard of the motorway. There are more hotels and petrol pumps that had to be given a separate service road that could not be provided.
Senator Dr Ashok Kumar asked when Gaddani weight station was outsourced and to whom. The income and other details as when the station was outsourced and to whom should be provided to the committee.
The committee was also informed about the repair work of GT Road section from Lahore to Islamabad/Rawalpindi including details of routine emergency, periodic and maintenance works.
The committee also sought all the record of emergency maintenance, special maintenance and regular maintenance during the last three years. The committee expressed serious concern over increase in toll tax every year and sought complete details.
The members of the committee expressed dissatisfaction over the working papers provided by the NHA and said that the Parliament should be given importance. The NHA just provided a piece of paper which did not explain answers and the questions raised by the parliamentarians.
The committee was postponed in protest till the next meeting. The committee directed that NHA should prepare proper paper with detailed information and share it in time so that the members could study it. During the last meeting, the members of the committee repeatedly wrote questions to the ministry officials. But timely responses were not provided.
The meeting was attended by senators Dr Ashok Kumar and Mian Muhammad Atiq Shaikh, besides secretary Ministry of Communications and the NHA officials.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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