| Establishment of NTC to reduce travel time, cut road losses worth $ 1 bn per annum |
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HASANABDAL: After completion of National Trade Corridor (NTC) by 2012, travel time between Peshawar and Karachi would be reduced from 72 hours to 36 hours,accident ration would fall by 70 per cent and road losses would be reduced to the tune of $1 billion per annum, a source in Ministry of Communications informed APP on Saturday.
“The government is committed to develop a transport system with an integrated approach to reduce travelling time and cost of business to make Pakistan’s exports more competitive in the international market,” he said.
Under the NTC major highways are being upgraded and new roads are being constructed.The NTC will link upper parts of the country in the North with ports in the South to reduce travel time and fuel cost by improving existing road network.
Under the plan G.T. road (N-5),Indus Highway (N-55) are being upgraded on priority basis,and new motorways and expressways are being constructed for this purpose.
Linking upper parts of the country in the North with ports in the South to reduce travel time and fuel cost by improving existing road network, motorways and expressways will be built by 2012.
Pakistan and China have signed agreement for widening and re-habilitation of 600 kilometers of KKH with the cost of $350 million. Simultaneously, he said, the Pakistan government would build a 100km-long expressway from Hasanabdal to Mansehra at a cost of $120 million to be completed in three years.
In between, he said, there was a 140-km-long road, which would be affected by Bhasha Dam, would also be re-built about 1,000 feet above the existing alignment at a cost of $235 million. He said when this silk route which was 8th wonder of the world, would be completed, China, Kazakhastan and Kyrgyzstan could export their goods through the Gwadar Ports under Transit Trade Agreement.
The source said that the Government would also reduce port charges, clearing time from six days to two days, which will be made online in future to reduce the exporting cost of goods.He further said that the transport cost of trade goods would be reduced through restructuring and modernization of railway,under the NTC programme, which will contribute in terms of saving of $ 2 to 2.5 billion per year.
The ministry source informed that the modernization of existing trucking fleet was also planned, which would reduce fuel import bill by 25 percent and road maintenance cost by $ 1 billion.The ministry,he added, has also proposed reduction in tariff on multi-axle vehicles for five years to implement the plan, he informed.
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