HARIPUR: Reconstruction work on GT Road through Haripur city would be completed within six months at a cost of Rs950 million, former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Babar Nawaz Khan claimed on Friday.

Talking to reporters here, he said following public complaints regarding the dilapidated condition of the road, federal minister for communication Maulana Asad Mahmood had, on his request, approved the project of reconstructing a 26km stretch of the road between Jhari Kas to Shah Maqsood. He said the reconstruction would raise the existing level of the artery up to 13 centimeters in line with the national standard for highways.

He said the project was divided into three sections, including Jhari Kass to Panian 9.5km, 6.5km from Panian to Darwesh and 9.5km from Darwesh to Shah Maqsood.

Babar Nawaz said the total length of the road was 26km, but he would try to ensure the reconstruction of the whole stretch of 30km within the limits of Haripur district.

He said work on the first section had begun, while the work order of the second section was likely to be issued within couple of days, and third section would also be approved by the federal minister within next couple of weeks. He said the work was scheduled to be completed within six months.

The former lawmaker said widening of Daidan Bridge on the GT Road was also included in the reconstruction work on his request. He said reconstruction of the road would help reduce travel time and control road accidents.

A National Highway Authority team led by deputy director Ameer Khan and village council chairman Ishtiaq Haider were also present.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2022