GUJAR KHAN: The vacation of a stay order on the construction of dual carriageways between Mandra-Chakwal and Sohawa-Chakwal has revived the hopes of the residents that the project would be launched to facilitate the area people.

The Mandra-Chakwal and Sohawa-Chakwal roads have become busy arteries due to the flourishing cement industry, transportation of salt and coal from Khewra Salt Range.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had allocated over Rs4 billion for these projects.

However, due to litigation between the contractors, the Islamabad High Court a few months back issued stay order on construction of the roads.

However, now the court has vacated the stay and work is expected to be started soon.

Naveed Mughal, a regular commuter between Daultala and Islamabad, said the highway had developed potholes and cracks due to lack of maintenance.

Furthermore, the presence of oil tankers and trawlers loaded with petroleum, cement, salt and other goods were posing great risk to the commuters.

A number of people were killed in frequent road accidents.

Professor Raja Amjad Hussain, another local resident, said the surface of the road was broken and potholes and ditches had developed on it, hampering the smooth flow of traffic.

Mr Amjad added that thousands of trees alongside the roads had already been cut and the spadework done.

He said the completion of the road would greatly facilitate thousands of people daily.

Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, MNA, while talking to Dawn said he and MNA Tahir Iqbal appeared before Justice Shauket Aziz Siddique of the IHC and explained the public suffering due to the suspension of work on the project.

The court then vacated the stay order, he added. Mr Ikhlas said during the parliamentary meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he had also highlighted the significance of the project.

He said Mr Sharif had also increased the funds to Rs8 billion after inclusion of a flyover at Marid railway crossing near Mandra in the project.