RAHIM YAR KHAN: The broken fence along Section-II of the M-5 (Sukkur-Multan) Motorway at different locations between the Zahirpir and Ghotki interchanges is creating problems, including accidents, cable theft and looting and kidnapping incidents, compromising safety of road users.

These incidents are being reported on around 150km-long stretch of the motorway between Zahirpir and Ghotki interchanges, while two other interchanges: one at Iqbalabad and other at Murid Shakh, also fall between them.

In 2019, before the completion of M-5, the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) had planted some 400,000 trees on a 100-foot-wide greenbelt inside the safety fence along both tracks of the motorway to control pollution.

The company had also developed a mud road along the greenbelt for irrigating the plants.

Later, CSCES handed over the control of M-5 to the National Highway Authority (NHA).

The fence and the greenbelt also served as a barrier against the people and wild animals trying to cross the motorway from its sides and disrupting the traffic flow.

However, with the passage of time, the residents of villages along the motorway started breaking the fence to cross the road.

During, the last few months, many such illegal passages have been developed by the locals by breaking the fence along section II of the M-5.

This broken fence was not only inviting the criminals involved in the theft of costly installations, like electric cable used for Intelligence Transport System (ITS).

In March 2023, four people were kidnapped on M-5 near Murid Shakh-Guddu interchange. The criminals also shot at a bus and a truck, injuring two people.

Furthermore, due to the broken fence, cattle and wild animals like stray dogs, jackals, porcupines and tortoises also enter the motorway, causing traffic accidents on the road meant for fast-moving vehicles.

Sources say that many tanker drivers transporting smuggled petrol, diesel and other items use these passages for illegal sale of these goods to the shopkeepers along the motorway.

NHA spokesperson Sohail Aftab, speaking to Dawn admitted that the motorway fence had been broken at some locations between Zahirpir and Ghotki interchanges.

However, he said that bids had been floated on Sept 9, 2023 for awarding contract for the routine maintenance of the motorway and the issue would soon.

Meanwhile, he said, the personnel of the National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP) and Allied Services routinely patrol the motorway to check such unwanted crossings.

He said the NHA has deployed Allied Services personnel on motorway to cope with any emergency situation arising due to accidents.

The spokesperson said the NHA had also tendered security and patrolling contracts for watch and ward services to curb theft incidents, deploying guards at service and rest areas on the motorway to ensure safety of road users.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2023