The Peshawar High Court has asked the authorities to speed up construction on the Indus Highway, saying that long delays are causing serious problems for the public. The court expressed concern over slow progress and said that people using the highway are facing difficulties every day.
Slow Progress and Rising Costs
During the hearing on Thursday, a two-judge bench led by Chief Justice S. M. Atiq Shah reviewed reports submitted by the National Highway Authority (NHA) and other government departments. The court said that the reports were not satisfactory and questioned why progress remained slow, even after previous instructions from the court.
The lawyer for the petitioner told the court that the construction of the Indus Highway started in 2018. The estimated cost of the project at that time was Rs. 30 billion, but now the cost has increased to Rs. 41 billion. Despite 85% of the highway being completed, the lawyer said there is still no proper traffic management system on the road. This makes it difficult for drivers and increases the risk of accidents.
Leadership Issues in NHA
The court also raised concerns about the management of the project. The Chief Justice pointed out that the NHA currently has no chairman, and asked how the authority could function effectively without proper leadership. Officials told the court that the Ministry of Communications had held a high-level meeting after the court’s earlier directives. However, the court emphasized that the absence of a chairman slows down decision-making and affects the quality of work.
Safety Concerns
The High Court also reviewed a video of the highway and criticized the design of a u-turn, calling it unsafe for drivers. The judges highlighted that 274 people have already died on the highway due to accidents. They stressed that proper safety measures and traffic management systems need to be implemented immediately to prevent further loss of life.
The petitioner’s lawyer also mentioned earlier concerns about the Hazara Motorway and said similar safety issues exist there as well.
Funding Requests
The NHA General Manager told the court that the authority has requested 6 billion rupees for the current fiscal year and 4 billion rupees for the next year to continue construction work and improve safety measures. The court noted the funding request and said that authorities must use the funds effectively to finish the highway on time.
Lack of Police Presence
Another major issue discussed in the hearing was the absence of police presence on the highway. Despite previous promises to deploy traffic police, there is still no law enforcement monitoring the road. The court summoned the Kohat Commissioner for the next hearing to explain why police are not present on the highway.
Conclusion
In summary, the High Court has taken serious notice of delays and safety issues on the Indus Highway. The main concerns include:
- Slow construction and rising costs (from Rs. 30 billion to Rs. 41 billion).
- Lack of traffic management systems on the road.
- Absence of a chairman in NHA, slowing down decision-making.
- Unsafe road design, including dangerous u-turns, causing over 270 deaths.
- Lack of police presence to manage traffic.
The court has ordered authorities to speed up construction, improve safety, and ensure proper management of the project. The next hearing will include the Kohat Commissioner, and the court will monitor whether authorities follow its instructions.
