ISLAMABAD, June 25: Barring the Peshawar-Charsadda section, the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) will be opened to all kinds of traffic in August.

National Highway Authority’s Member (Motorways) Altaf Ahmed Chaudhry said here on Sunday that the Islamabad-Burhan and Rashakai-Charsadda sections had already been opened to traffic. Two more sections — Burhan-Swabi and Swabi-Rashakai — would also be opened in early August, he said.

He said that the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway was one of the most important projects of the NHA and its quality construction was its top priority.

He said that the project would be completed in scheduled time in January 2,007 when the last section, Peshawar-Charsadda, would be opened for traffic.

He said that one side of Indus Bridge has already been opened for traffic while work on the other side was in full swing and it would be opened for traffic in July. About Kabul Bridge, he said that it would be completed by December.

Answering a question, he said that 18 flyovers, two service areas, five rest areas and 556 culverts had been included in the project.

He added that interchanges would be constructed at Burhan, Swabi, Rashakai, Charsadda, Fatehjang, Jhang Bahtar and Chhach.

He said that the 152-kilometre M-1 would be a six-lane motorway like Lahore-Islamabad Motorway and it would help promote inter-provincial harmony.

He said that the M-1 was being completed by local construction companies and such efforts would help make the country self-reliant in the field of construction.

Mr Chaudhry said that the M-1 would provide faster and an alternative route between Islamabad and Peshawar and cater for international traffic from Central Asian Republics, China and Afghanistan to the ports and industrial areas of Pakistan.

It would also help reduce the transportation costs which would ultimately benefit consumers, he added.—APP