SWAT: Caretaker Provincial Minister Mohammad Ali Shah said on Wednesday that construction work must be accelerated to ensure timely completion of Takhta Band bridge.

He inspected the quality of work on the under-construction bridge. During his visit, he checked and quality of the material and directed the relevant authorities to accelerate pace of work on the bridge.

He said that Takhta Band road was the major bypass route for all kinds of traffic moving beyond Mingora, Upper Swat, Shangla and Gilgit-Baltistan region. “Since the bridge on the road was in bad shape and on the verge of collapse, its reconstruction was started during the previous government,” he said. He said that work on the bridge was stopped owing to shortage of funds.

The minister said that after the construction work was stopped, all the traffic had to divert to the GT road, burdened it. “Due to heavy traffic on GT road, commuters face traffic jam issues frequently. Owing to the importance of Takhta Band road, the caretaker government has released funds on emergency basis so that the bridge is completed before the stipulated time,” he said. He added that he hoped for the early construction of the bridge.

Mr Shah said that opening Takhta Band road to all kinds of vehicles was very important to keep traffic in Mingora in order and decrease pressure on GT road.

“After the completion of the bridge, the inbound and outbound traffic in Mingora will be reduced and the tourists, commuters and transporters will get better facilities,” he said.

On the occasion, the relevant authorities and the contractor briefed the minister about progress on the bridge.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023