MURREE: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has sought expressions of interest (EoIs) from the construction firms to extend Islamabad-Murree Dual Carriageway to Kohala and connect it with Muzaffarabad Expressway, sources said on Thursday.

The prequalification process in this regard will complete by August 15.

However, a meeting of the interested firms and officials of the NHA was held on July 25 in the communication ministry in which they discussed the proposed extension of the road in a formal manner, sources said.

The NHA will invite tenders for the project after feasibility study and shortlisting of firms.

The road will be 48 kilometre long and will touch the newly announced Muzaffarabad-Mirpur-Mangla Expressway.

The four-lane expressway from Muzffarabad to Mirpur via Mangla will facilitate trade with occupied Kashmir via Chakoti.

According to the document, the NHA was also considering widening Lower Topa-Kohala Road.

The NHA also plans to construct dual carriageway from Lower Topa to Kohala via Chajana.

According to documents, the planned extension of expressway will largely contribute to the economic and social development of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Its will not only improve communication link with Muzaffarabad, but also facilitate trade with Occupied Kashmir via Chakoti.

It will boost tourism and bring about a change in the social complexion of the people living around the expressway.

It is pertinent to mention that approximately 47-km-long road from Islamabad to Lower Topa was planned by the PML-N government in mid-90s, and executed by the Musharraf regime.

The project was first named as the “Islamabad-Murree Dual Carriageway” but was changed to “Islamabad-Kohala Expressway (N-75) and it was inaugurated by Pakistans former Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in 2011.

Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014