Transport and Communications sector plays a
significant role in the socio-economic development of the country. An efficient
transport system with modern infrastructure is considered an economic factor of
production. The most common modes of transportation are: Roads and highways,
Railways, Rivers, Canals, Seaports, and Aviation. The communication system
plays an important role in cultural development and making knowledge based
society. People to people contact through modern communication ways have
emerged as a significant tool for awareness of the masses. In Pakistan, the
transport system broadly consists of roads, railways, air transport and ports
& shipping services.
In
the recent CDWP meeting held at Planning Commission on 19th September, 2017
chaired by Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz, five road projects were approved which
includes one position paper. The projects include Construction of a 4 Lane
Bridge across River Indus linking Layyah with Taunsa including 2- lane approach
roads and Training works (24.272 km) is referred to ECNEC worth Rs. 10.5
Billion. The proposed design of bridge and river training works with allied
facilities are based on Hydraulic Model Study carried out in May, 2017 at IRI
Lahore. At present, nearest link between Layyah and Taunsa is through DI
khan – Darya Khan Bridge located 88 km upstream and Taunsa Barrage located 52
km downstream of the proposed bridge. Owing to the non-existence of the direct
link between layyah and Taunsa cities commuters have to travel 100 kms in two hours. After construction of the proposed bridge, the
distance between the two cities will be reduced from 100 kms to approximately
50 km and will require 45 minutes.
In
addition, CDWP approved construction of Kot Pindi Das Interchange on Motorway
M-2 in District Sheikhupura with a cost of Rs. 595.629 Million. The project
envisages construction of interchange on existing flyover of M-2 located at 32
km from Lahore towards Islamabad side to facilitate traffic movements on
motorway M-2. Another transport and communication sector project approved was
construction of Farooqabad Interchange on Motorway M-2 In District Sheikhupura
with a cost of Rs. 861.38 Million. The proposed interchange will facilitate
traffic movements to and from Lahore-Islamabad motorway to Farooqabad road by
providing loop and ramp arrangements which will ultimately save the travel time
and reduce fuel consumption.
The
project of dualization of Sialkot – Pasrur Road (26.5 KM) got approved with a
cost of Rs. 2.99 Billion by CDWP. The
project envisages construction of new 2-lane additional carriageway in addition
to the improvement, widening and strengthening of the existing 26.5 km Sialkot
– Pasrur road. The existing structures / bridges will also be improved as a
4-lane facility. Lastly, CDWP approved a position paper for construction of 4
Lane Bridge and 2 Lane approach Roads across River Indus connecting Kallur Lot
with D.I. Khan. The project envisages construction of 1.254 km 4 lane bridge on Indus River. Rs. 300 Million would
be required on the completion of the bridge.
