Key Takeaways
- Construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) will commence in November 2026.
- The motorway, 306 kilometers long, is divided into five sections with varying costs.
- International financial institutions have committed funding for the project.
The National Highway Authority (NHA) has announced that construction work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) will begin in November 2026. The motorway, spanning 306 kilometers, is set to be divided into five sections, each with its own estimated cost and development model.
Dr. Shafique, an NHA Member Planning and Design, provided details during a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Division. The sections are as follows: Section-I, covering 57 kilometers from Hyderabad to Tando Adam, is estimated to cost Rs. 81 billion; Section-II, from Tando Adam to Nawabshah, is expected to cost Rs. 70 billion; Section-III, from Nawabshah to Naushehro Feroz, is estimated at Rs. 69 billion; Section-IV, stretching 61 kilometers from Naushehro Feroz to Ranipur, will cost around Rs. 68 billion; and Section-V, from Ranipur to Sukkur, is estimated at Rs. 71 billion.
Financing for the project has made significant progress. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has signed a $475 million loan agreement for Sections-IV and V, while the OPEC Fund Board has approved $230 million for Section-III. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also signed an agreement to provide transaction advisory services for Sections-I and II under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
According to the briefing, the revised PC-I of Rs. 364 billion has already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Land acquisition for the main motorway corridor has also been completed. Procurement for the three sections being financed by international financial institutions is currently at different stages.
Bids for Section-III, which is being financed through the OPEC Fund, were received on September 2, 2026, and are under evaluation. Contract acceptance is expected in November. Bidding documents for Sections-IV and V were issued on July 24. Bids for Section-IV were opened on September 3 and are currently being evaluated, while bids for Section-V are expected to be opened in October following a delay linked to the Grievance Redressal Committee process.
For Sections-I and II, tendering under the PPP model is scheduled for November 6, 2026. Bids are expected to be received by December 30, with the concession award targeted for February 4, 2027.
The NHA’s detailed planning and the progress made in securing funding and completing land acquisition indicate a robust approach to the project’s implementation. The PPP model for Sections-I and II is expected to attract private sector investment, contributing to the overall cost and ensuring the project’s success.
