GHALANAI: The Nahakki tunnel and road would be opened to traffic soon as 95 per cent work on it has been completed.

Nahakki tunnel is the first ever project launched by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) in the region. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zaffar Jhagra would inaugurate it.

During a briefing on Nahakki road tunnel and Ghalanai-Mamad Gat road, FWO project director Col Shuaib Khan said here on Thursday that the project was part of 45 kilometres Ghalanai to Mamad Gat road, which was financed by the government of United Arab Emirates.

The briefing was also attended by Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir, MNA Malik Bilal Rehman, APA Abdul Hameed Khattak and tribal elders.

Col Shuaib said that the funding later stopped and the construction work was underway in the supervision of FWO. “Total cost of project is Rs4614 million. Its width is 36 feet. The road from Nahakki to Mammad Gat would be completed within three months,” he added.

He said that at least 16 kilometres road from Ghalanai to Nahakki tunnel was blacktopped. He added that opening of the road would save two hours of heavy trucks, transporting marble, while 25 minutes of light vehicles as it would reduce the distance by three kilometers.

Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir said on the occasion that the area was badly affected by militancy and consequent military operation. He added completion of the road project would put the area on the path of development.

“It is the first ever road in the entire Fata with 36 feet width and it is the first ever tunnel of the country completed by FWO engineers,” said the political agent.

He said that people Bajaur, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Chitral and others areas would be benefited from the project. “They will reach Peshawar within four hours instead of six hours,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2017