ISLAMABAD, June 3: The communications ministry has warned that it will cancel the contract for the construction of the M-9 section of the Motorway between Hyderabad and Karachi if the work is not completed during the current month.

The ministry took serious notice of delay in completion of the work.

This project awarded on build, operate and transfer basis to a local contractor was scheduled to be completed by March. The contractor failed to meet the deadline and the executive board of the National Highway Authority extended the deadline till June. But the pace of the work shows that the project is unlikely to be completed during the period.

“The contract was awarded by the NHA executive board. It could not be completed within the stipulated time and the board had to extend it till June. However, no further extension will be given and the contract will be cancelled if the deadline is not met,” Communications Minister Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui said. Officials of the NHA and the communications ministry had decided in a meeting presided over by Mr Siddiqui a few days ago that the contract would be cancelled after June.

The minister had issued directives warning that no lapse would be tolerated in this regard, sources said.

It was also decided in the meeting that the ‘right of way’ adjacent to highways won’t be allowed for commercial use. Only non-commercial construction such as establishment of mosques, bathrooms, bus bays and other facilities would be permitted on the land. The facilities would not be auctioned out on contract lease.

In case anyone wants to use his adjacent land for commercial purpose, he will have to get a no-objection certificate from the NHA.

The minister directed NHA officials to repair the damaged fence along the Motorway. He asked the officials to devise a toll- and fine-collection system for the Motorways on modern lines with the assistance of the National Database and Registration Authority.