M-1 motorway (Pakistan)

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The M-1 motorway or the Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway (Urdu: اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے) is an east–west motorway in Pakistan, connecting Peshawar to Islamabad–Rawalpindi.[2]

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M-1 motorway
ایم ١ موٹروے
Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway
اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے
Map
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length155 km[1] (96 mi)
Existed2007–present
Major junctions
West endPRR Peshawar
Major intersections Kernal Sher Khan Interchange
Hazara Interchange
Burhan Interchange
Hakla Interchange
East endIslamabad–Rawalpindi
Location
CountryPakistan
Highway system
  M-2

The motorway was constructed during President Pervez Musharraf's rule at a cost of Rs. 13 billion (equivalent to US$314 million in 2023), and was opened in October 2007.[3] It spans 155 km (96 mi),[2] with 88 km (55 mi) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 67 km (42 mi) in Punjab.

History

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M-1 motorway westbound towards Peshawar.

Work on M-1 was started during Nawaz Sharif's tenure in 1997, and the contract was awarded to Turkish company Bayindar.[4] However, the work stopped after his government was dismissed by Army Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf in October 1999. Progress remained very slow and not much work was done between 1999 and 2003.[4]

Work restarted in 2003 after the contract was re-awarded to a consortium PMC-JV during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure.[4] A plan was made to connect the existing M-2 motorway with the Torkham border. In 2004, the Senate body was briefed on a plan to connect Gwadar Port with the existing motorway infrastructure. Hence, it highlighted importance of M-1 motorway in this context.[5]

It was completed at a cost of Rs. 13 billion, and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 30 October 2007.[6][3]

Route

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M-1 Peshawar toll plaza

The M-1 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 Rashakai before crossing the Indus River. The M-1 leaves Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and enters into Punjab province, where it passes through Attock, Burhan, and Hasan Abdal. The M-1 terminates near Islamabad as a continuation of the M-2 motorway.

The whole stretch of the M-1 consists of six lanes, with a number of rest stops along the route. The M-1 has 14 interchanges - at Airport Link Road, Islamabad, AWT/ Sanjiani/ Paswal, Burma Bhatar, Burhan (Hassan Abadal/ Kamra), Hazara Expressway (E-35), Ghazi, Chachh, Sawabi, Rashakai, Charsadda, the Peshawar Northern Bypass and Peshawar Ring Road. At Brahma Bahtar Interchange, the Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway leads towards Dera Ismail Khan.

There are three 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 (five on the each side of the motorway) are present along the route.

Junctions and interchanges

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M-1 Motorway Junctions
West bound exits Junction East bound exits
PRR Peshawar Ring Road   Start of motorway
to Peshawar-Charsadda Road  

Peshawar Northern Bypass

to Chamkiani & N-5 National Highway
to Charsadda & KP Highway S-1  

KP Highway S-9

to Nowshera
to Mardan, Rashakai & N-95 National Highway  

N-45 National Highway

to Risalpur
to Swabi, Topi  

KP Highway S-6

to Jehangira
to Ghorghushti   to Lawrencepur
to Hasan Abdal & N-35 National Highway  

N-5 National Highway

to Burhan, Attock
to Taxila/Wah Cantt   to Fateh Jang
to Rawalpindi, Islamabad  

Kashmir Highway

to Islamabad International Airport

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Map Of National Highway Network, Pakistan
  2. ^ a b "Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1)". National Highway Authority of Pakistan. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Inaugural of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway today". Business Recorder. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "M-1 to cut travel time by an hour". Dawn. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Senate body briefed on M1, Gwadar projects". Dawn. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Motorway to open in Oct". Dawn. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
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