PESHAWAR
Work on DI Khan-Peshawar and Dir motorways, the two mega communication infrastructure projects of the PTI Government with a proposed allocation of Rs276.5 billion, was entered into advanced stage and practical work on it is expected to launch in 2022.
Out of Rs276.5 billion allocation for both the mega projects, an official of Khyber Pakthunkhwa Highway Authority (PKHA) told APP on Friday the 30 kilometers long Dir Motorway would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs33.5 billion, which would convert the entire Malakand division comprising seven districts including Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Swat, Shangla and Buner into a hub of tourism, trade and investment.
Dir Motorway would be initially four lanes and later to be extended to six lane full-fledged motorways to be constructed on a public private partnership basis. The motorway would start from Chakdara to Rabat town and after completion would reduce distance between these cities by 27 kilometres. Two tunnels and three interchanges would also be constructed on Dir Motorway, he added.
Similarly, 19 interchanges and two tunnels would be constructed on 365 kilometres long six-lane DI Khan-Peshawar Motorway to be completed with an estimated cost of Rs243 billion, the official said, adding ECNEC had already approved both of these mega projects that would bolster regional connectivity and turns KP into hub of trade and investment.
DI Khan-Peshawar is the second motorway project of the PTI Government after completion of Swat Motorway discussed at the 9th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting held in Islamabad on November 5, 2019. The motorway would become an international trade corridor (ITC) by providing direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia Republics after construction of Peshawar-Khyber Pass Corridor up to Torkhum and Swat Motorway Phase-II up to Maydain Kalam.
It would link South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Kurram districts through links roads and 19 interchanges besides connecting Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and DI Khan. It would be a fenced motorway having 365 kilometres length, 100 metres right of way, two major tunnels with 120 kilometres per hour speed in plains and 60 kilometres per hour in hilly areas.
The PKHA official said feasibility studies of Swat Motorway Phase-II had been completed and groundbreaking would hopefully be performed soon.
