Punjab to digitalise toll plaza by abolishing slip system

LAHORE: Punjab has decided to completely abolish manual toll slips across all toll plazas in the province by introducing a fully digital toll collection system.

The initiative will implement a One-App, One-System model similar to the motorway’s e-toll system across 38 electronic toll plazas.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.

The provincial government also approved public-private partnerships for the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of five major roads. Under this arrangement, private firms will be responsible for maintenance and development work.

Officials briefed that Punjab has achieved record savings of Rs 40 billion through e-tendering, reflecting the efficiency of the new system.

The chief minister further directed that solar street lights be installed on all newly constructed roads and approved several beautification and redevelopment projects in Lahore, including the Railway Station, Misri Shah, Data Darbar, Ek Moria and Do Moria bridges.

Plans include installing a fountain and a mini-train for children in the park opposite the railway station, along with new roads and pedestrian pathways within a three-kilometer radius.

In the briefing by the C&W Department and LDA, it was revealed that 54 large bridges, 142 small bridges, and 858 roads damaged during floods have been restored. The 93-kilometer Multan–Vehari Road will become Punjab’s first dust-free highway, expected to be completed by June 2026.

Similarly, the Quaid-e-Azam Interchange to Wagah Tourism Corridor is slated for completion by June, while the Chief Minister’s Local Road Program covering 2,341 projects over 5,251 kilometers will be completed by mid-2026.

Most of the road rehabilitation projects in Murree, Chakwal, and Sahiwal have already been completed. Under the CM Punjab Initiative, the construction and repair of 10,000 kilometers of roads across the province are in the final stages.