ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The National Highway Authority has decided to build an 180-metre tunnel at Lakpass at a cost of Rs678 million. It will connect Quetta with Iran through N-40 (Naukundi-Taftan) and Karachi through N-25 (Qalat-Khuzdar-Bela).

The project has been awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis and would be completed in two years.

An approach road, about 4.5 kilometres long, will link the tunnel to the main highway for the north-bound traffic. The existing road will also be rebuilt/rehabilitated for the south-bound traffic. An interchange at the intersection of N-40 and a cross-over bridge at N-25 are also part of the project. Preliminary work such as site clearance and earthwork for the approach road has already been completed.

The tunnel will help motorists and truckers to avoid the steep mountain pass. The existing gradient of the crossing is 15 per cent which makes vehicles move at a snail’s pace. Fully loaded trucks are compelled to hire tractors to pull them through this segment. Tractor owners charge each truck between Rs150 and Rs200 for the service. The problem of steep gradient is aggravated by sharp blind curves. As Lakpass is a critical link for vehicles plying on N-40 and N-25, there is a dire need to remove the bottleneck.

The tunnel will be of immense benefit to the people of Balochistan. It will provide safe and efficient crossing with improved gradients and elimination of curves; reduce accidents; save travel time and reduce vehicle operating costs, provide employment to the people of the province and generate economic activity in the area.