By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government has approved a Rs. 104.9 billion programme to develop a network of connecting roads linking Sections I, III, and IV of the Central Expressway with the existing road network across the Western, Central, and North-Western provinces.
The project, approved by the Cabinet for implementation during the 2026–2030 period, is aimed at improving connectivity to the Central Expressway while easing traffic movement between the expressway and surrounding road network.
Under the proposed programme, Section I of the Central Expressway will be linked to the existing road network through a connecting road network spanning 117.68 kilometres.
A further 12 connecting roads, covering a combined 83.98 kilometres, have been proposed for Section III, while nine connecting roads with a total length of 81.36 kilometres are planned for Section IV.
Altogether, the proposed connecting road network will extend across approximately 283 kilometres, creating additional access points between the Central Expressway and key existing roads.
The Government expects the development of these links to improve accessibility to the expressway, strengthen connections between regional road networks, and facilitate smoother traffic flows.
The project also reflects a broader effort to maximise the benefits of investment in the Central Expressway by ensuring that communities and economic centres located away from the main expressway can access it more efficiently.
The Cabinet decision was based on a proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to implement the connecting road development programme between 2026 and 2030.
The scale of the investment, however, places the project among the Government’s major infrastructure commitments at a time when public expenditure and the prioritisation of capital projects remain under close scrutiny.
With the provisional cost estimated at Rs. 104.9 billion, effective project planning, phased implementation and cost control will be critical to ensuring that the proposed network delivers the intended improvements in connectivity without placing additional pressure on public finances.
Once completed, the connecting roads are expected to provide the Central Expressway with a wider and more integrated network of access routes, potentially improving its role in linking the Western, Central and North-Western regions.
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