PESHAWAR, July 1: The Works and Services Department, Fata, has started consultations on mega road project, with a total length of 644 kilometres
, linking the seven tribal agencies with a major road network from Wana in the South Waziristan Agency to Khar in the Bajaur Agency.
The PC-I of the Rs4.79 billion project, which included a consultancy cost of Rs60 million, had been approved by the Governor NWFP Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain in May 2003.
The project has now been included in the current PSDP after remaining pending before the CDWP for the grant of necessary funds. It was learnt that the NWFP Governor was taking a keen interest in the early starting of the gigantic project.
The Governor's Fata Secretariat has already issued necessary directives to the executing agency, the Works and Services Department, for the early completion of formalities.
The proposed road network is part of the tribal area's overall development programme which aims at improving the existing communication network along with the construction of new road passing through different agencies to meet the ever increasing traffic demand.
It was learnt that the NWFP Governor Lt-Gen Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah had called for improving the existing road from Wana to Khar, increasing its width by 12 feet turning it into a 24- feet black-topped road, eliminating unnecessary curves and straightening the road as far as possible.
The consultancy, presently under progress by three reputed firms, is meant to construct two lane roads passing through rugged and mountainous terrain. The road would pass through Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, North and South Waziristan Agencies.
According to the preliminary PC-I of the project, the first portion of the 176-kilometre long road Wana to Thall, including 57 kilometres new alignment while the remaining 119-kilometre road would be widened and improved by constructing bridges and culverts for drainage. The first portion is to cost over Rs1.1 billion.
Similarly, the second leg comprises Thall to Warsak area in which 130 km long new road would be constructed at a cost of over Rs1 billion. The third portion of the project between Warsak to Khar, comprising 108 kilometres, would cost Rs648 million.
About Rs990 million would be spent on improvement of road alignment in Tank, Jandola, Karama, Sam and Sararogha-Makeen Road. The total length of the project is 165 kilometres. Similarly, Bannu-Miran Shah section consisted of 65 kilometres would cost Rs390 million.
Apart from other benefits, the road project also has strategic importance within the tribal belt for the enforcement of law and order situation as well as an easy and prompt access to the borders of the country. -APP
