KOHAT, April 16: The first phase of the excavation of 1.889 kilometre long Kohat Tunnel has been successfully completed three months ahead of the stipulated time period, project director Pervez Gul said on Tuesday.

Talking to Dawn he said that with the completion of the excavation much time and money would be saved as now heavy machinery and material could be moved from inside the tunnel to Darra Adam Khel from the Taisei’s camp in Kohat for the construction of a by pass which also includes a bridge.

He said that the 1.889 kilometres long tunnel, a Rs7 billion NHA project being carried out with the help of government of Japan would now be ready for commissioning by the end of May 2003.

With the construction of the tunnel a major irritant from the strategic Indus Highway would be removed which would also rid the commuters from the perilous journey on the hilly track between Kohat and Darra Adam Khel, save precious oil, increase the life of the vehicles and provide a safe route to the heavy traffic.

The commuters would save 40 minutes while travelling between Peshawar and Kohat with the construction of the tunnel and the business community and the office goers would now move between the two cities in shortest possible time, he added. Mr Gul said the tunnel would be equipped with most modern gadget.