CM KP accelerates work on phase-II of Swat Motorway

PESHAWAR: Presiding over a meeting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the concerned authorities to summon federal and provincial authorities to initiate work on phase-II of the Swat Motorway.

To connect Chakdara to Fatehpur, an 80-kilometre-long section of the motorway will be constructed with nine interchanges at Chakdara, Shamozai, Barikot, Mingora, Kanju, Malam Jabba, Sher Palam, Matta Khwazakhela and Madayan Fatahpur Interchange under the second phase of the project.

While approving the plan of establishing a four-lane wide highway, the authorities explained that a possibility of extending the highway into six lanes with eight bridges also exists. This will be finalised after judging certain factors including feasibility, cost and time taken.

While briefing the meeting, CM Mahmood said that connecting and developing the communication routes will help throughout the province and pave the way for a conducive environment for investors.

In addition to spending Rs37 billion on the project, procuring the land to construct the highway will cost Rs20.5 billion which will cater to more than 20,000 vehicles of the daily commuters.

The areas of Shamozai, Parrai, Dadhara, Ningolai, Shakardhara, Baidara, Drushkhela, Bazakhela, Asharai, Kalakot, Baghderi, Shin, Farhatabad, Kotanai, Ghaskor and Manyar have been identified to benefit the most from this route.

To cover the cost of the project, the government has planned to pave extension routes to boost economic activity and create employment opportunities for the local population. Furthermore, new tourist sites will also be introduced near the proposed interchanges.

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