ISLAMABAD:National Highway Authority (NHA) is planning to build a 16-lane toll plaza at Islamabad Interchange of Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-1).
An official of NHA on Sunday said that, “The new toll plaza will be constructed about 300 meters distance from Fathejang Interchange.”
He said, “Presently a temporary toll plaza has been set-up after segregation of M-1 and M-2 toll following handing over of M-1 to Frontier Works Organization (FWO) on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.”
It is worth to mention that motorists and commuters have been demanding construction of a modern toll plaza at the exit point of M-1 at Islamabad as due to non-availability a proper plaza smooth flow of traffic could not be ensured.
Zain Malik, a motorist who travels almost daily from Attock to Islamabad on his own car to perform his duties said, “Long queue at toll plaza causes delay at the exit of the motorway.”
He also said, “The old plaza had 12 booths at the exit while the new plaza has only six to eight booths.”
“Now he has to leave his home at least 30 minutes ahead of time to reach office in time,” he said.
Bilal Ahmed, a commuter who comes from Kamra of Attock District every day, said, “In the past, catching a van coming to Islamabad via motorway was the best option to reach office in time but now sometimes coming by motorway costs more time than the Grand Trunk Road (N-5).”
Shafqat Ali, a driver of commuter van which plies on Attock-Rawalpindi route said, “It was a good initiative on the part of the NHA as FWO has already built a modern 16-lane toll plaza on the end point of Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2).”
He said, “It would help avoid delays and long queues at Islamabad exit of M-1.
