KOHAT, Dec 9: The NWFP cabinet has okayed the establishment of NWFP Highways Authority to take over maintenance of the roads and reconstruct the British-era bridges, Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah said while laying the foundation stones of repair of three bridges on the Kohat-Rawalpindi road.

He said the bridges would be reconstructed with an estimated cost of Rs8.5 million. He expressed anguish over the diversion of traffic near the Gumbat bridge, which had been closed for the last one year and the vehicles had to pass through a nullah.

The Works and Services Department Executive Director Wahid Bakhsh, briefing the governor, said the bridges were constructed in 1889 and their replacement was long due.

The governor was also briefed on the condition of the Khushal Garh iron bridge on the Indus River, which was being repaired by the Pakistan Railways for the last 10 years.

The bridge has completed its life span of 100 years and now is 112 years old.

The governor ordered the extension of the periphery routes leading to the Kohat-Rawalpindi road from villages and towns.

He announced the construction of a canal from the Gandiali Dam to Gumbat, upgrading of Gumbat Girls High School to higher secondary school, Taulanj Middle School to high school and Bilitang Girls High School to higher secondary school.

He was accompanied by the Education and Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain Gilani, Kohat District Nazim Malik Asad and others.

The provincial government had asked the National Highway Authority to construct old bridges and roads in the province on construct-own-and-run basis and collect the revenue, but the authority had refused.