The construction work on Rs4 billion approach road network connecting the new Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) Islamabad was kick-started by the National Highway Authority (NHA).
Of the five approach roads, the one that will go to the BBIA from the Lahore-Peshawar Motorway (new zero point) will be built first on emergency basis so that the VVIPs and ordinary passengers travelling to the new airport from Islamabad and Rawalpindi have an easy access, said NHA General Manager, Yousuf Barakzai.
He said the NHA has the land at its disposal on which this access road would be built.
Barakzai said the motorway- BBIA access road, which would be first constructed in just one year, would enable travelers from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to reach the new airport without any delay.
Additionally, it would provide approach to transportation of air cargo.
The other four access roads will connect the BBIA from the Tarnol-Fateh Jang road, from the Thalian interchange at the Lahore-Peshawar motorway, from Islamabad toll plaza and from GT Road.
The total length of these roads is 21 kilometres.
Barakzai said the urgency was that access roads should be built before the construction work on the BBIA, which was going at a fast pace, concluded.
The groundbreaking of the new airport, spread over 3,600 acres of land, was performed in April 2007.
It is located near Fateh Jang, 20 km from Islamabad Zero Point.
As the work on access road network would start and the BBIA would become functional, business and commercial activities around it would get a fillip.
The first test flight to the under-construction New Benazir Bhutto International Airport near Fatehjang to check its runway successfully landed on 15th March 2012.
Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, Secretary Defence Nargis Sethi, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) authorities and other senior officials were on board in the ever first flight that landed at the New Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad.
The construction of two runways have been completed, while the remaining work is in progress and likely to complete by end of June 2013.
NHA Starts Work On Roads Connecting New Airport