National Highway Authority (NHA) is in process of arranging additional US$ 85 million for Malakand Tunnel Project as now it has been decided to build two-tunnels instead of one tunnel to accommodate traffic volume. For single tunnel project South Korea had agreed to give Rs78 million loan but now its cost has increased.

An official of NHA told APP that on availability of funds the construction period of the project is 42 months.

It is worth a mention 14 kilometer Malakand Pass located at Dargai – Batkhela on Nowshehra-Chitral Highway is situated in hilly terrain with steep slope and alignment defects caused traffic congestion and possible traffic accidents in severely winding curves. Fragile geology, steep slope and rainfall cause the land slide and thus block the road.

The tunnel project is a remedial measure by NHA to deal with such problems through construction of an alternative 9.77 km Malakand Pass with tunnel.

Original PC-I of the project was approved by ECNEC in its meeting held in May, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 9,043.325 million with single tube tunnel proposal. A loan agreement for US$78.00 million was signed in December, 2012 between EAD and EXIM Bank Korea/government agency for the Economic Development Fund (EDCF) of Korea to finance the project.

The Korean consultant based on latest traffic estimates recommended that at present two tubes tunnel would be required at Malakand pass. Due to additional tunnel the cost of project has been increased from US$78.0 million to US $163.0 million.

Thus project would require additional funds of US$85.0 million. Based on two tubes concept the Revised PC-I of the project at a cost of Rs16,544.00 million including FEC at estimated cost of Rs14,110.00 million has been approved by ECNEC in its meeting held in November last year.

He said Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation 2017-18 is Rs300 million.

He said the construction of Malakand tunnel would not only shorten distance for travelers belonging to Dir, Malakand, Swat and adjacent areas but also provide Pakistani goods an easy access to Central Asian states. The 9.7km project includes three bridges and approach roads on both sides of the tunnel.

The Malakand tunnel project would also reduce pressure of traffic on Torkham Road because it would link Dir-Chitral with Tajikistan and other Central Asian Republics.