The 155 km long Motorway M1 between Islamabad and Peshawar in now open for traffic in its entirety. The 117 km portion of it got inaugurated on October 30, 2007.
M1‘s construction work was initially started in the year 1993 by a Turkish company Bayindar but it left the work incomplete in 1997. The contract was the re-awarded to a consortium called PMC-JV in 2003.
The speed limit on M1 is 120 kmph and it is completed at a cost of Rupees 16 bn.
M1 has 9 interchanges at Fatehjang, Bhatar, Burhan, Rashaki, Swabi, Chachh (under construction), Charsadda, Northern Bypass and Ring road on N-5. There are 3 major bridges on Haro, Indus and Kabul rivers, 18 flyovers, 27 other bridges, 137 underpasses and 571 culverts. 10 services areas— five on the each side of the motorway— would be provided out of which, four mini service areas at km-4 and km-106 have been completed. Six main service areas at Haro bridge, Indus River and Kabul River will start functioning after some time as they are still under constructions
The proposed Pakistan Motorway project is approximately 3000 km long network of access controlled, signal free highways. With the inauguration of M1, 768 km of this network is now operational. Following is the complete list of motorway sections planned and operational in Pakistan.
M1: Peshawar – Islamabad : 155 km (6 Lane, Access Controlled, Operational)
M2: Islamabad – Lahore: 367 km (6 Lane, Access Controlled, Operational)
M3: Pindi Bhattian – Faisalabad: 53 km (4 Lane, Access Controlled, Operational)
M4: Faisalabad – Multan: 243 km (proposed 4 Lane)
M5: Multan – Dera Ghazi Khan: 65 km (proposed 4 Lane)
M6: Dera Ghazi Khan – Rato Dero: 450 km (proposed 4 Lane)
M7: Rato Dero – Karachi: 303 km (proposed 2 Lane)
M8: Gawadar – Ratodero: 1072 km (under construction, 2 Lane road completed and operational)
M9: Karachi – Hyderabad: 136 km (4 Lane, Access Controlled, Operational, 6 Lanes planned)
M10: Karachi Northern Bypass: 57 km (6 Lane, Access Controlled, Operational)
Shahrah-e-Sanat Lahore- Sialkot: 101 km (under construction)
TOTAL : 3002 km
Sunset Over M1
Following photo was taken on October 4, 2008 and is courtesy of Anjum Riaz at APP. It shows sunset on M1.
Related ATP Posts:
1. Traveling on the N5: Part I
2. Traveling on the N5: Part II
3. Traveling on the N5: Part III
@Tahseen Marwat
Appreciate your hard work in building this national asset for Pakistan.
I have worked on M1, we worked hard and constructed it properly, it is very easy way, comfortable
The work on Chamkani interchange on M1 is currently stopped. The photos of the incomplete bridge appear at APP today. See here and here.
hello,hi,dear readers sallam !
as for as motorway is concerned an excellent work done by genral pm,and shaukat aziz.though there was to much commisiong in that but it is completed now its our responsibility that we to look after that,some work is left insh that will also be completed.the main problem inpakistan is of rules,n0 on knows rules of driving and mp use to fine them.currently i am living in uk here pakistani respect the rule more than the british just bcoz of fear of deporting and etc,so please learn a better driving here in pakistan u will not be even failed here in test bcoz pakistani roads and traffics…….haha ha aha …..
The fencing done on both sides of M1 from from Peshawar to Swabi has been stolen by miscreants. This has made M1 dangerous in this section b/c wandering animals are a serious hazard for high speed traffic on M1. A Dawn update below:
SWABI: Fencing of motorway discussed
By Our Correspondent
SWABI, Dec 20: Talks are underway to either construct a boundary-wall or re-erect fences on both sides of the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway as the installed fences had been taken away by people in various areas from Peshawar to Swabi.
The inspector-general National Highway Authority and Motorway, and high-raking police officials of the NWFP discussed the issue how to jointly tackle the problem and ensure safe journey on the road, sources told Dawn here on Saturday.
Without fences, the motorway had become extremely unsafe for journey. The officials of the Motorway and NWFP police had already discussed the issue how theft of the fence could be prevented. It had become difficult for the police to identify the people who were involved in the crime.
However, the sources said that the officials admitted that it was very difficult to deploy police force to protect the fence from Peshawar to Swabi, but still they wanted to work out a plan for making journey safe for the travellers.
The sources said that theft cases were only reported from Peshawar to Swabi region while the remaining Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway was safe for journey.
The sudden turn up of wild animals on the road could lead to fateful accidents and there was a dire need to take precautionary measures in this regard, they added.