MULTAN: Motorists intending to use the Sukkur-Multan section of the motorway (M-5) as per an announcement of the National Highway Authority that it would be open to light traffic on Friday faced inconvenience as they were denied entry at different interchanges on the 400km long stretch.

An official source said they were surprised at the NHA announcement since staff at toll collection booths was yet to be deployed besides the deployment of motorway police.

He said the Inspector General of Motorway Police after getting reports that motorists were thronging interchanges to use the motorway came to Multan on Friday and traveled up to Sukkur. He said the IG told the staff enroute that the vehicles could not allowed to use the expressway till the deployment of motorway police.

The official said after reports of opening the motorway for light traffic, the project manager of the Chinese company — the China State Construction Engineering Corporation — told NHA authorities that opening of the road in such a haste could result into accidents. “When the company has not finished its work, how the NHA can allow the entry of the vehicles on the motorway,” the official quoted him as conveying to the authorities.

He said the manager also opposed the opening of the motorway without the presence of toll operators. He said the construction of service areas and technical facilities for motorists by the NHA was still underway.

NHA media advisor Nayyar Sarhadi however claimed the Sukkur-Multan section of M-5 had been opened to light traffic. He said date for official inauguration of the project was yet to be fixed.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2019