Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

The National Highway Authority (NHA) plans to build 11 bypasses on the National Highway (N-5) as part of a multibillion-rupee dualization carriageway project — tranche-III. According to documents available with WealthPK, the 330km dualization carriageway project, stretching from Rajanpur (Punjab) to Dera Ismail Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), will benefit thousands of people.

The project is divided into two major segments – Rajanpur to DG Khan (121.5km) and DG Khan to DI Khan (208km) – with five and six bypasses, respectively. The total length of the bypasses is 97km. Three of the longest rights-of-way are the Kot Chutta DG Khan, Muhammad Pur, and Tounsa bypasses, measuring 20km, 15.5km, and 13.6km, respectively.

The estimated cost of the bypasses in PC-I is Rs200 million, with an additional Rs66 million allocated for the existing roads linked to these routes. As per the documents, the NHA executive board approved the award of contracts for tranche-III in May this year to the lowest evaluated bidders, subject to approval of the revised PC-I by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Subsequently, the bid-based revised PC-I was forwarded to the Ministry of Communications for CDWP/ECNEC consideration. Once approved, the project will proceed accordingly. According to the bid-based revised PC-I, the total estimated cost of the project is Rs175.90 billion. It is expected to be completed within two years of the contract award.

The scheme is further divided into four segments: 57km from Rajanpur to Jampur, 64km from Jampur to DG Khan, 112km from DG Khan to Tibbi Qaisrani, and 96km from Tibbi Qaisrani to DI Khan. Ningxia Communication Construction (NXCC), a Chinese firm, secured all four contracts by submitting the lowest bids of Rs23,556.8 million, Rs29,126 million, Rs51,996 million, and Rs42,604 million, respectively.

Eleven countries are part of the CAREC Programme, which promotes development through cooperation, aiming to accelerate economic growth and reduce poverty. The initiative is guided by the overarching vision of “Good Neighbours, Good Partners and Good Prospects.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk