The Lowari Tunnel would be ready by March next year as about 76 per cent construction work on 8.5-kilometre long tunnel with a total cost of Rs 27 billion has been completed.
About Rs 18 billion have been spent so far on the 8.5km project being completed by a Korean company SAMBU. Deputy Director of the project Mukesh Kumar attributed its fast track completion to the keen interest of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
“The actual date of completion of the project was December 2017 but on the instructions of the prime minister, the project would now be completed before the scheduled time,” he added.
He informed that four bridges and 14-kilometre long approach roads were also being constructed at both sides of the tunnel. The construction of the approach roads would be completed in two-year time, he said.
According to details, initially, the contract of the project was awarded as Rail Tunnel to a Korean based contractor in September 2005. The design was modified to road tunnel in anticipation of extension of road link to Tajikistan via Afghanistan during 2009-10.
The revised PC-I was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) in November 2011. The design was further optimised to accommodate full two standard lanes for one way directional tunnel in 2012. The original PC-I at a cost of Rs 7,983 million was approved in 2011. Revised PC-I at the cost of Rs 18,182 million was approved in year 2012. Second revised PC-I at the cost of Rs 26,954 million was approved.
The project would not only facilitate the people of Chitral and Dir districts but would prove as an important alternate route for China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and enhanced independent trade with Central Asian Republics.
Lowari Tunnel will be all weather road linked between Chitral valley and the rest of the country, providing an opportunity to explore the hydro power potential in Chitral valley.
The tunnel besides reducing poverty would provide better access to markets and become instrumental in the development of tourism industry of the country.
It will also help in tapping large potential area of mineral resources, fruits and agriculture, livestock and other mineral based industries.
