Lowari converted into road tunnel

[LahoreEstate]

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to convert Lowari rail tunnel into a road tunnel, which will also save Rs1.5 billion.

Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan, who announced the decision here on Tuesday at the end of a seminar organised by the National Highway Authority, directed for resuming work on the project in a fortnight.

Representatives of the Korean construction firm carrying out the project gave an assurance on the occasion that they would start work in 15 days. Mr Alamgir said besides consulting elected representatives of the area, he had visited the area and exchanged views with local elders who were of the opinion that rail tunnel would not be of much benefit to the people.

He said the Lowari tunnel was part of a 1,300km road project that would link Pakistan with Tajikistan. He said the Lowari tunnel was an important project not only for the people of Chitral but also for the entire country.

The minister said the ministry had paid outstanding dues to the Korean firm, which had agreed to restart work.

Minister for Safron Najmuddin Khan said the Nowshera-Chitral road (N-45) was also in a dilapidated condition needed to be repaired on priority basis.

Earlier, NHA chairman Altaf Chaudhry told the participants that shortage of electricity, high maintenance cost of rail system at a high altitude, discontinuity of the NHA road network and impossibility of loading heavy vehicles on the rail were the reasons that the authority recommended to convert the Lowari project into a road tunnel.He said the road tunnel would be easier and cheaper to maintain.

A representative of consultant firm Geoconsult-Typsa, Dr Johann Golser, said conversion from rail to road tunnel would save the NHA Rs1.5 billion.

Among others, the seminar was also attended by Minister of State for Communication Imtiaz Safdar Waraich, MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin, provincial Minister for Social Welfare Salim Khan, MPAs Mohammad Anwar Khan, Ghulam Mohammad Khan and Bacha Saleh, Upper Dir District Nazim Sahibzada Tariqullah, Chitral District Nazim Maghfirat Shah and Chitral PPP president Zainul Abidin. — APP


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