FAISALABAD, Oct 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate the Motorway-3 — from Faisalabad to Pindi Bhattian — on Thursday.

The 52.5 kilometre long M-3 project had been finalized in 1996, and the then government had decided to construct it in six lanes with an estimated cost of Rs8 billion. But due to some technical problems and non-availability of required funds, it was decided to construct only four lanes with an estimated cost of Rs5.3 billion.

Work on the project was started some 18 months ago and it was completed by the contractor before time. Two bridges — one over the railway track and the second on a canal — have been constructed on the motorway, while two interchanges near Sahianwala and Faisalabad will be set up in the second phase.

APP ADDS: No traffic will be allowed for three hours on the Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad Motorway section on Thursday due to its inauguration.

According to Motorways DIG Dr. Waseem Kausar, all types of traffic will remain suspended on this section from 0930 hours to 1230 hours.

The DIG said no vehicle would be fined on the Motorway-3 for 15 days.

He said: “We have taken over the control of M-3 on Wednesday afternoon and started round-the-clock patrolling for the safety of travellers.” He said one DSP, 21 senior patrolling officers (inspectors), 30 patrolling officers (sub-inspectors) and 50 assistant patrolling officers and other staff had been deployed on this sector.