ISLAMABAD, June 4: An amount of Rs40 billion has been allocated in the budget this year for the National Highway Authority to complete dozens of projects throughout the country.

Last year, an allocation of Rs36 billion was made, but 50 per cent of the amount was diverted to flood-hit areas.

The authority had been working on 23 roads for which it had sought an amount of Rs56 billion to complete the road projects and other leftover schemes.

Among the ongoing plans, work will continue on projects for acquisition of land and property compensation for construction of 184km Faisalabad-Khanewal Expressway (E-4) and 103km Khanewal-Lodran Expressway (E-5), construction of 200km Ratodero-Dadu-Sehwan Road (E-6B), construction of 34km Peshawar Northern Bypass, 134km Khuzdar-Shahdadkot-Ratodero (M-8), 459km Hoshab-NagBasima-Surab Road (N85), Hassanabdal-Havellian-Mansehra Expressway, rehabilitation, improvement and widening of Karakuram Highway, Kalat-Quetta-Chaman Highway, Lowari Tunnel, Badaber-Dera Adam Khel Road and some bridges, interchanges, ring roads and approach roads.

Apart from the 23 ongoing schemes, National Highway Authority has devised 42 new roads construction projects which will also be launched if the budgeted finances permit.

Last year's devastating floods had severely damaged National Highway Authority's road network. According to surveys, about 793km roads were partially or completely destroyed which will cost an estimated amount of Rs23.6 billion for rehabilitation.