ATTOCK, Oct 26: With the inauguration of Burhan-Peshawar section of Motorway on October 30, the distance between Islamabad-Peshawar will be reduced to 154 km and the journey will take only 90 minutes.

This was stated by general manager Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1) Ch Mujeeb Qadir while talking to Dawn on Thursday.

He was visiting Burhan interchange, along with other senior officials of the ministry of communications and chief National Highway Authority Major Gen Imtiaz Ahmed.

They were visiting the interchange to give final look to the project before its inauguration.

Mr Qadir said undoubtedly, after the completion of remaining 117- km portion of M-1 form Burhan (Attock) to Peshawar, the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway would provide unhindered travelling facility to the people.

He said 154 km portion of M-1 from Islamabad to Peshawar had cost about Rs16 billion.

M-1 construction work initially started in year 1993 by a Turkish company Bayindar but it left incomplete in 1997 due to some reasons, then contract was re-awarded to a consortium PMC-JV in 2003, he said.

The completion deadline was January 2007, he explained.

Giving salient features of the M-1 project he said the motorway was constructed by NHA’s engineers, local consultants and contractors, he claimed.

He said there were nine interchanges at Fatehjang, Bhatar, Burhan, Rashaki, Swabi, Chachh (under construction), Charsadda, Northern Bypass and Ring road on N-5. He said there were three major bridges on Haro, Indus and Kabul rivers, 18 flyovers, 27 other bridges, 137 underpasses and 571 culverts. He said 10 services areas— five on the each side of the motorway— would be provided out of which, four mini service areas at km-4 and km-106 have been completed.

However six main service areas at Haro bridge, Indus River and Kabul River will start functioning after some time as they are under constructions, he maintained.

The speed limit of M-1 is 120-km per hour and all arrangements for its inauguration have almost been completed, he said.

SSP NH&MP M-1 & M-2 Capt (Rtd) Ehsan Tufail while talking to Dawn said the National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) had taken over the charge of newly constructed 117-km portion. They would officially start their duties soon after its inauguration on October 30.

He said 219 NH&MP’s officials would perform their duties on three sections from Burhan to Swabi, Swabi to Rushaki and Rushaki to Peshawar.

He said that M-1 from Burhan to Peshawar have been divided into three sections and the DSP along with 72 other NH&MP’s officials including 36 Inspectors would supervise each section, he said.

He said that initially a few NH&MP’s officials had been deputed, out of total sanctioned strength, for the safety purpose and to stop the vehicles from entering the motorway before inauguration as still heavy machinery is in operation to finalise the construction work.