Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Monday granted its principal approval to a proposal to build a 339-kilometre-long motorway from Peshawar to Dera Ismail Khan, the purpose of which is to improve road access for the southern areas of the province — according to news sources.
As per the reports, the project is estimated to cost PKR 250 billion in total. The approval was granted in a meeting held at the Chief Minister Secretariat, which was chaired by Chief Minister (CM) KP Mahmood Khan in Peshawar.
The meeting was briefed about the details of the proposed highway and the different routes that could be built. In addition, the design parameters, objectives, interchanges tunnels, district coverage and other important aspects of the project were also deliberated during the session.
Of the five routes proposed for the building of the new highway, the meeting agreed on constructing the option that was 339kms long. This route starts from Chamkani in Peshawar, and is expected to end at Dera Ismail Khan, via Darra Adamkhel, Hangu, Bannu, Karak, Kohat and Lakki Marwat. Additionally, the motorway will include 15 interchanges to serve the merged tribes of Kurram, Orakzai, and North & South Waziristan, while three tunnels will also need to be dug through the mountains for this extensive project.
The CM hinted that this highway construction project in KP is vital enough that it may become part of the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), and added that this new road infrastructure project will encourage the development of the southern region of the province.
CM Khan also directed the concerned authorities to finalise a detailed plan for the construction of interchanges and routes, with the consultation of the elected officials so it can be developed at a rapid pace.
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