By Ijaz Kakakhel

Land acquisition for the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) project has reached 100% completion, with the National Highway Authority (NHA) paying about Rs15.26 billion in land compensation, according to the latest official data available with Wealth Pakistan.

The updated land acquisition status shows that the motorway requires a total of 7,548 acres across seven districts of Sindh along its 306-kilometre alignment. Of the total requirement, 1,026 acres comprise state land, while around 6,522 acres are privately owned.

The awards have been completed for about 6,522 acres of private land, while mutation has also been completed for roughly the same area.

District-wise figures indicate that Khairpur Mir has the largest land requirement, with 1,877 acres needed for a 76-kilometre section of the motorway. This includes 88 acres of state land and 1,789 acres of private land. Payments made for land acquisition in the district amount to Rs4.076 billion.

In Matiari, a 70-kilometre stretch requires 1,729 acres, comprising 100 acres of state land and 1,629 acres of private land. The NHA has paid about Rs4.093 billion in the district.

Another major portion falls in Naushehro Feroze, where 1,581 acres are required for a 64-kilometre stretch. Of this, 87 acres are state-owned and about 1,494 acres are private. Payments in the district have reached Rs3.619 billion.

In Shaheed Benazirabad, the project requires 1,457 acres for a 59-kilometre section, including 80 acres of state land and 1,377 acres of private land. Around Rs3.029 billion has been paid for land acquisition there.

The requirement in Jamshoro stands at 568 acres for 23 kilometers, including 464 acres of state land and 104 acres of private property. Payments have reached Rs21.85 million.

Hyderabad requires 296 acres for a 12-kilometre section, with payments of Rs321.135 million, while Sukkur accounts for 40 acres along a two-kilometer stretch, involving payments of Rs99.792 million.

The latest status report places overall land acquisition progress at 100%. However, procedural work relating to award and mutation involving 79 acres is shown as still in process, including eight acres in Hyderabad, 51 acres in Matiari and 20 acres in Khairpur Mir.

In addition to the main motorway alignment, the project requires another 713.30 acres for interchanges, service areas, and rest areas, highlighting the wider land requirement associated with supporting infrastructure along the M-6 corridor.

Credit: INP-WealthPk