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Lahore - Islamabad Motorway M-2

Lahore – Islamabad Motorway M-2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term (1990–1993). The contract was awarded to M/s Daewoo Corporation (Daewoo) of South Korea on 30 December 1991 at a cost of Rs. 23.686 billion on a design-cum-construct basis.
Daewoo provided a loan of $379 million as supplier’s credit at LIBOR plus one interest to meet 40 percent of the project cost, payable in 21 semi-annual equal installments. The loan was revised to $654 million and touched $702 million.
Motorway M-2 is envisioned to link and serve as a fast-track link for north – south traffic of the country, reducing time and providing safe journey. It connects Islamabad (The Federal Capital) with Lahore (The Provincial Capital of Punjab). Motorway M-2 track is 333 Km long. This 6 – Lane facility passes through the district Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, and Rawalpindi with controlled access at 22 points (through grade – separated intersections).
Motorway M-2 was inaugurated on 26 November 1997, during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s second term. In late 2006, upgrades were made to the portion of Motorway M-2 passing through Salt Range due to increasing complaints from drivers. The upgrades included better marking of road lines and increased size of road signs for easy visibility.

Overlay and Modernization of Motorway M-2

Project Details

Motorway M-2 was required to be rehabilitated after 10 years (i.e. year 2007), but could not be undertaken due to paucity of funds with Government of Pakistan. In year 2014, Federal Government decided to execute rehabilitation works of Motorway M-2 through Public Private Partnership (PPP).  Federal Government awarded Rs 44,484 million contract of overlay and modernization of Motorway M-2 to Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Various commercial banks were to finance this project under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangements. BOT projects are totally financed by private sector; however National Highway Authority (NHA) will get a portion of the profit. Motorway M-2 has been leased out to FWO for 20 years. FWO is responsible not only for re-carpeting Motorway M-2 but also upgrading Motorway M-2 services areas, toll plazas and other amenities set up along either sides to facilitate the commuters.
Salient aspects of the Project are as follows:
In December 2014, a signing ceremony of the project was held at HQ FWO. Motorway M-2 rehabilitation and modernization is the biggest infrastructure project initiated on BOT basis and will accelerate the pace of development through PPP. The construction phase of the project was to be completed by the end of year 2017 with minimum disruption to traffic.

Establishment of Motorway Operations and Rehabilitation Engineering (Private) Limited (MORE)

MORE was incorporated as private limited company on 11 April 2014 under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (replaced by the Companies Act, 2017 with effect from 30 May 2017). The Company is principally formed for the purpose of Overlay and Modernization of Motorway M-2, on a Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. A Concession Agreement was signed between NHA and MORE on 23 April 2014, for a period of 20 years, for Overlay and Modernization of Motorway M-2. Authorized capital of the company is Rs 1,104 million divided into 110,475,300 ordinary share of Rs 100 each.

The Project

Overlay and Modernization of Motorway M-2

Construction Phase

Construction phase of the project commenced in January 2015. As per Concessionaire Agreement, the construction was to be completed in three (3) year period i.e. upto December 2017. Overlay and Modernization works of M-2 were undertaken by FWO. As per the directions of Prime Minister of Pakistan, the works were executed at an accelerated pace. Substantial completion of the project was achieved on 25 August 2016, The entire Motorway M-2 has been rehabilitated during construction phase.

Road Structure Upgradation and Rehabilitation

1. Overlay / Re-carpeting of Motorway M-2.
2. Rehabilitation of bridges on Motorway M-2 including replacement of bearing pads and expansion joints.
3. Establishment of segregation toll plazas at Islamabad (M-2) and Pindi Bhattian (M-4).
4. Refurbishment and upgradation of all existing toll plazas.
5. Upgradation and rehabilitation of fence all along Motorway M-2.
6. Rehabilitation of drainage system.
7. New construction (where required) and restoration of retaining structures.
8. Upgradation of road signage and road furniture.
9. Slope stabilization. 

MORE Team
Mr. Kamal Azfar
Chairman
Mr. Aakif Rahim Jaspal
Chief Exective Officer
Mr. Abid Naeem
Chief Operating Officer
Syed Muhammad Waqas Arif
Company Secretary
Amir Naeem
CFO
Kamran Safdar
Manager O&M
Qaddafi Asad
Manager MSAs
Modernization of Motorway M-2
  1. Installation of state-of-the-art Electronic Tolling and Traffic Management (ETTM) System at all toll plazas.
  2. Establishment of centralized operation, maintenance and control center at Sheikhupura, Bhera and Thalian.
  3. Establishment of Network Operations Control Center for monitoring and managing road operations at HQ FWO Rawalpindi.
  4. Implementation of weigh regime through installation of weigh stations at each entry point of M-2 (prior to entering toll plaza).
  5. Installation of Automatic Vehicle Counting (AVC) system at each toll plaza.
  6. Commuter awareness on weather, road and traffic condition etc. through Variable Message Sign (VMS).
  7. Upgradation of round the clock emergency response services (in case of accidents or distress) through Emergency Roadside Telephone (ERT) and mobile helpline (1313) to provide following to commuters:
    a. Fully equipped ambulance services for emergency medical cover.
    b. State of the art mobile workshop to provide on-site repair for vehicles.
    c. Breakdown vehicle recovery service for evacuation of vehicle to nearest main workshop.
    d. Firefighting services for emergency response in case of fire.
  8. Landscaping and plantation in loops of interchanges and within Right of Way (ROW).
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Operations, Management and Maintenance

Motorway M-2 operations, management and maintenance is a broad-spectrum activity involving:

1. Operations

  1. Tolling operation
  2. Weighing operation
  3. Carriageway cleaning
  4. M-tag Recharge
  5. Patrolling and Vigilance
  6. Rapid Rescue and Recovery in Accidents and Emergency
  7. Emergency Medical Assistance (First Aid)
  8. Firefighting
  9. Addressing Commuters’ Complaints 24/7
  10. Commercial operation of ancillary facilities

2. Management

  1. Traffic Management
  2. Inventory Management
  3. Asset Management, Pavement Management and Bridge Management
  4. Accident Management
  5. Management of Motorway Service Areas
  6. Plantation and Vegetation Management

3. Maintenance

a. Reactive Maintenance
  1. Responding to inspection reports, commuter’s complaints and emergencies
  2. Filling potholes
  3. Drain cleaning
  4. Fence repair
  5. Guard rail repair and replacement after accidents
  6. Street lights repair
b. Routine Maintenance
  1. Patch work, distress and cracks repair
  2. Drainage repair and cleaning
  3. Repair of structures
  4. Verge maintenance
  5. Maintenance of ancillary works i.e. signage, road marking, fence and street lights etc.
  6. Toll facilities and equipment maintenance
c. Periodic Maintenance

It is a programmed maintenance carried out as a major activity to maintain Motorway M-2 to the desired serviceability level. Major activities include recarpeting, repair of structures, road drainage repairs, restoration of road signage / road furniture etc.