NHA to Add 6 Service Areas and 3 Petrol Pumps on M5 Motorway

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has planned six service areas and three petrol pumps on Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) for travelers’ convenience.

The officials apprised the Senate body on communication that met with Hidayat Ullah in the chair. According to the details, the construction work will take two months.

The committee was told that travelers’ response to the M-Tag facility was not satisfactory as they did not recharge it, stand in wrong queues and crowded up the toll plaza.

The committee chairman suggested incentivizing the M-Tag holder to improve the facility. The committee also took notice of the sale of substandard and expensive food items on Motorway service areas.

The NHA officials informed the committee that the authority had imposed fines to the violators on receiving complaints, however, it is the responsibility of deputy commissioners to set the rates in that area.

Over poor hygienic conditions on the Rashakai service area, the NHA chairman informed the body that there were only 12 bathrooms and most of the travelers rest there as it’s the central point between Peshawar and Islamabad.

The contractor’s agreement will expire on June 30 and after that, additional bathrooms with other improvements will be included in the new contract, he added.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Lt Gen (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Bahramand Khan Tangi, Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badini and other officials concerned.