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
Owais thanks for the information….I have travelled through Costal Highway and scenes around are really fantastic……Wish Raetodero-Gawadar to be functional soon…so that we can see more of BALOCHISTAN as well……more Motorway and Higway Police needs to be deployed there to make the journey safe…which can be dangerous due to miscreants activities….
@ Khadim Ch Saheb and Neena Sahiba.
I don’t know why Quetta was left out of Motorways. May be Bolan pass proved to be a big obstacle.
Out of proposed 3000 km of motorways, almost 1/3rd (~30%) i.e. 950km fall in Balochistan. Therefore i don’t think the province was left out. 95% of Ratodero-Gwadar section is in Balochistan. Add to this the 700 km of now functional world class Coastal highway so Balochistan is in no way a loser when it comes to highways/motorways.
I’ve read somewhere that a two-lane road from Ratodero-Gawadar is already functional which will ultimately become the motorway.
I am getting exciting after reading all aboce kashif you really made a point about Toll Fee……Govt should think about it……I am planning to travell on it but couldnt do so due to Taliban factor in SWAT….For God sake pls stop it….Can any one can come up with more pics of landscap around it…
Neena not only Quetta but all Balochistan is ignored in this scheme..Gawadar Ratodaro…..Ratodaro….Karachi is last in plan…..I think we need to explore Balochist more from Tourism point of view….which has lot yet to be discovered…All pakistani should have equal share…I would like now Gawadar Ratodairo to be open…linking Balochistan with other provinces….this would really increase harmony among provinces and people will come close……..Still waiting rail links from Gawadar to be announced that would help boost economic activities with inaguration of Gawadar Port
Congratulations to all from Sarhad Province who are getting benefit from this road….Balochi the most deprived is still waiting to have one like this…..I have travelled a lot through pakistan and found motorway better option….Although one has to pay a lot in form of Toll Plaza Fee but at leas you are getting service against payment….There is lot of hazzle in travelling through other National Highway stopping regularly and paying this Toll Fee…Govt Needs to review it….Interestingly on Lahore-Shekhupura-Faisalabad Road this Toll Fee is very high the reason being is that this road is built by a private company on BOT contract…