ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Wednesday approved 15 development projects, mostly in the power sector, at an estimated cost of Rs261.2 billion.

In a meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Ecnec also approved a few projects in the transport and communication sector, including a Rs24.6bn mass transit project for Karachi.

On the request of the Ministry of Communications, Ecnec approved land acquisition for 138-kilometre Faisalabad Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-4) at a revised cost of Rs4.221bn. The project envisaged acquisition of 3,139.5 acres for building a four-lane motorway having a right-of-way corridor of 100 metres.

The meeting also approved a project to improve and construct Jalkhad-Chilas road at a revised cost of Rs7.605bn. The 71.05km-long road will be widened to a 7.3-metre carriageway with one-meter-wide shoulders on either side.

The scope of work also includes construction of 11 bridges, 95 culverts, 28 causeways, slope protection and drainage works. The project is the last segment of the Mansehra–Naran–Jalkhad road.

Ecnec also approved a project to dualise and improve the existing N-50 from Yarik–Sagu–Zhob, including Zhob Bypass (210km) at a total cost of Rs76.5bn. The project envisages construction of 210km four-lane controlled access highway starting from Yarik on N-55 to Zhob on N-50 via Sagu, Daraban, Mughal Kot, Manikhuwa as part of the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Karachi’s Green Line bus project cost raised to Rs24.6bn

A proposal to rehabilitate the National Highways Authority’s Karakoram Highway (N-35) between Thakot and Raikot was also approved at a total cost of Rs8.341bn. The road was damaged due to unprecedented monsoon rains and flash floods in 2010.

The meeting also approved construction of two-lane highway from Basima to Khuzdar at a cost of Rs19.2bn.

The project aims at building 106km two-lane road to a standard 7.3-metre wide single carriageway with 2.5-metre shoulders on either side from Basima to Khuzdar on new alignment at a distance of 100 metres from the edge of the shoulder of existing road.

The project also includes land acquisition, construction of bridges, culverts, retaining structures, drainage and erosion works along with allied facilities.

The meeting also approved Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System for Karachi, from KESC Powerhouse Chowrangi (Abdullah Chowk) in Surjani to the central business district of the city at a revised total cost of Rs24.604bn.

The hike in the cost is due to increase in the length of the corridor from 17.8km to 27.45km (18.05km at grade and 9.4km elevated), increase in number of stations from 22 to 35, and rise in length of elevated portion from 3.45km to 9.4km.

The project aims at constructing two-lane (each lane 3.5 metres wide), dedicated signal-free bus rapid transit system. The project would benefit 400,000 passengers every day in Karachi.

The dualisation of Indus Highway N-55 Sarai Gambila to Kohat Section was also approved at a cost of Rs30.13bn. Under the project, dualisation of the existing 128km-long two-lane (7.3 metres wide) Indus Highway (N-55) from Sarai Gambila to Kohat would be carried out to make it a four-lane facility.

The committee also approved a proposal of the Ministry of Water and Power for 500-kilovolt Chakwal substation at a revised cost of Rs6.71bn. The project envisages installation of the new substation along with associated transmission lines to meet the growing demand of the areas including Chowah Saidan Shah, Gujar Khan, Dandot, Pinanwal, Talagang, Tamman, Padshahan and Chakri under the jurisdiction of Islamabad Electricity Supply Company.

It also approved seventh secondary transmission line and grid stations, covering six districts of Punjab — Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin — at a cost of Rs7.528bn. The project aims to provide facilities for reliable and stable supply of electricity to meet growing demand of domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers of Gujranwala Electric Power Company.

Ecnec also approved evacuation of power from two 660MW coal-based power plants in Thar at a revised cost of Rs21.783bn.

The project will evacuate power from the project in the national grid to up-country load centre.

The related work includes 275km-long 500kV HVAC double-circuit transmission line from the power plant to 500kV Matiari switching station, and extension at 500kV Matiari switching station for construction of two-line bay.

The committee also approved enhancement in transformation capacity of National Transmission and Despatch Company’s system by extending and augmenting existing grid stations, covering 28 districts throughout the country at a cost of Rs16.5bn. The project aims to enhance existing 500kV and 220kV grid stations at various locations. The project will result in addition of 7,146 MVA in the system at 28 existing grid stations and is expected to reduce transmission losses by 40.7MW.

The meeting also approved evacuation of power from two 1,100MW K-2/K-3 Coastal Power Plant near Karachi at revised total cost of Rs7.5bn. The objective of the project is evacuating power from K-2/K-3 nuclear power plants to the national grid envisaged to be installed at coastal area near Karachi.

Ecnec also approved compensation to affectees of Mirani Dam (EL-264 to 271.4 for houses and EL-245 to 271.4 for fruit and non-fruit plants) at a cost of Rs3.5bn to be equally borne by the federal government and the government of Balochistan.

The construction of infrastructure and allied works for Metro Bus Services Peshawar Morr–New Islamabad Airport was also approved at a cost of Rs16.43bn. The project envisages construction of 25.6km long dedicated two-lane signal-free corridor of 9.6 to 10.4 metres width with normal sections for bus rapid transport system, to connect the already constructed station.

The committee also approved preliminary design study to upgrade main line and construction of new dry port / cargo handling facility at Havelian (Baldher), district Haripur, at a cost of Rs10.6bn.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2017