PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Tuesday directed the quarters concerned to convene a meeting of both the federal and provincial authorities to workout modalities to start spadework on second phase of Swat Motorway.

A statement issued here said that he was chairing a meeting regarding second phase of the under-construction motorway. Swat Motorway’s proposed 80 kilometres long Phase-II section would start in Chakdara and end in Fetehpur area of Swat. It will have nine interchanges and eight bridges.

The statement said that the motorway would have four lanes with future possibility of extension to six lanes while the interchanges would be located in Chakdara, Shamozai, Barikot, Mingora, Kanju, Malam Jabba, Sher Palam, Matta Khwazakhela and Madayan Fatahpur.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs37 billion with an additional Rs20.5 billion for purchase of land.

Mahmood Khan says it will connect far-flung areas with major roads

The chief minister told the meeting that the project was part of government’s vision to develop communication routes throughout the province and provide suitable environment to investors and connect far-flung areas with major road networks.

He said that the project would also help in making the province a destination for national and international tourists.

He stressed the need for initiating and completing the project on fast track basis.

“The extension routes will boost economic activities and create employment opportunities for local population by introducing new tourist sites near the proposed interchanges,” he added.

The meeting was informed that the existing roads within the Swat valley and rural urban areas on both sides of the Swat River were facing traffic problems owing to presence of a large number of vehicles.

The meeting was informed that the project would not only connect the local population on both sides of the river with major communication routes but would also help to boost local agricultural economy by providing farm to market access, promote tourism, reduce time travel and generate tremendous employment opportunities.

The statement said that more than 20,000 vehicles would be able to use the route on daily basis with some of the major areas to benefit directly from the expressway included Shamozai, Parrai, Dadhara, Ningolai, Shakardhara, Baidara, Drushkhela, Baza khela, Asharai, Kalakot, Baghderi, Shin, Farhat abad, Kotanai, Ghaskor and Manyar.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2019