M1 motorway (Pakistan)


The M1 motorway or M1, is an east-west motorway in Pakistan, connecting Peshawar to Islamabad–Rawalpindi. The motorway was constructed by President Pervez Musharraf with cost of Rs. 13bn., and was opened on October, 2007. It spans 155 km, with 88 km in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 67 km in Punjab. The M1 connected Motorways of Pakistan to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

History

M-1 Peshawar Islamabad motorway was started during Benazir Bhutto tenure in 1993, the contract was awarded to Turkish company Bayindar. However, the work stopped after her government was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari. Nevertheless, work progress remained very slow and not much work was done between 1993 and 1997, the work was restarted in 2003, during President Pervez Musharraf tenure in 2003. The plan was made to connect the existing M2 motorway with Torkham border. In 2004, the Senate body was briefed on a plan to connect Gwadar Port with existing motorway infrastructure, it highlighted important on M-1 motorway in this context. It was completed with cost of Rs. 13 bn and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 30 October 2007.

Route

The M1 originates northeast of Peshawar at the junction with the Peshawar Ring Road. It then crosses over the Kabul River in an eastern direction passing the cities of Charsadda, Risalpur, Swabi and before crossing the Indus River. The M1 leaves Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and enters into Punjab province, where it passes through Attock, Burhan and Hasan Abdal. The M1 terminates near Islamabad as a continuation of the M2 motorway. The whole stretch of the M1 consists of 6 lanes, with a number of rest stops along the route. The M1 has 14 interchanges at Airport link road, Islamabad, AWT/ Sanjiani/ Paswal, Burma Bhatar, Burhan, Hazara Express, Ghazi, Chachh, Sawabi, Rashakai, Charsadda, the Peshawar Northern Bypass and Peshawar Ring Road. At Brahma Bahtar Interchange, the Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway has commenced towards Dera Ismail Khan. There are 3 major bridges along the route along the Haro, Indus and Kabul rivers, 18 flyovers, 27 small bridges, 137 underpasses and 571 culverts. 10 service areas are present along the route.

Junctions and interchanges