The National Highway Authority (NHA) Executive Board has approved the award of works for the dualization and improvement of the existing N-50 road from Yarik to Sagu to Zhob. The works have been awarded to M/s NLC Engineers at their evaluated bid price of 22.837 billion, which is 26.67% higher than the engineer’s estimate of 18.029 billion. The award of works is subject to the approval of the revised PC-I by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The Board also recommended the revised PC-I for the dualization and improvement of the existing N-50 road, including the Zhob Bypass, at a cost of 81.310 billion for approval by ECNEC. The project was recommended for approval based on a cost calculation by the consultant, M/s NESPAK.
The Board directed that a proposed SOP for the detailed design approval of new and already constructed Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects be circulated among board members for their input. The board members’ views will be incorporated into the SOP and resubmitted for approval in the next meeting.
The Board approved the award of works for the construction of the Gawdar-Ratodero Road (M-8) balance works of Package-III to M/s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) under Rule 42(f) of PPRA. However, the board directed that a rebate be obtained from M/s FWO so that the bid price becomes 25% higher than the engineer’s estimate. The board also directed that the practice of preparing an umbrella (global) PC-I be discontinued.
The GM (RAMD) informed the board about the preparation of the Annual Maintenance Plan for NHA for the fiscal year 2022-23. Stakeholder consultation meetings were arranged in Lahore and Karachi to gather input on the plan. All stakeholders, including NHA officers, representatives of the National Highway and Motorway Police, academia, road user associations, goods carriers, and truck drivers’ associations, as well as the general public, were invited to attend the meetings.
During the meetings, the representatives of truck drivers, fleet/cargo owners’ associations, and Chambers of Commerce and Industries expressed their support for the implementation of axle load limits by NHA as stipulated in the National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000. They also expressed their intentions to take legal action in case of non-implementation and informed the board of a planned nationwide strike. After detailed discussions, the board unanimously decided to implement the permissible load limits defined in the National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 (Schedule-VI). The concerned offices were directed to immediately launch a campaign to raise awareness among road users about the strict implementation of axle load regimes by NHA and the National Highway and Motorway Police.
