BATKHELA, March 16: The second steel bridge at Chakdara will be opened for vehicular traffic by 25th of this month to solve the longstanding demand of the people of the area particularly the business community.

Colonel Asim of Pakistan Army informed this during a briefing to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Ghulam Dastagir Khan here. The chief secretary eulogised the services rendered by the security forces in restoration of peace and rehabilitation of flood and militancy affected areas of Malakand division.

It may recalled that traders’ community of Lower Dir had demanded of the federal government and National Highway Authority to immediately resume construction work on famous Chakdara bridge that had been washed away by flash floods some 17 months ago.

The executive council of Anjuman-i-Tajaran Timergara in a recent meeting expressed grave concern over the government failure to reconstruct the bridge.

Later, a jirga of elders of Alladhand town also held a meeting with the chief secretary at Fishing Hut, Chakdara.

They apprised the chief secretary of their reservations regarding acquisition of land for construction of grid station. The chief secretary assured them that the land will be acquired in accordance with their advice.

The chief secretary also visited DHQ hospital Batkhela, political House Malakand and sites of Chakdara bridge and grid station.

He was also flanked by Secretary Home Azam Khan, Commissioner Malakand Fakhar Alam Khan, DIG Akhtar Hayat Khan, DCO Malakand Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah and DCO Lower Dir Mehmud Wazir.

Talking to elders, Mr Dastagir said each possible step will be taken to overcome the problems of the people. He also assured upgradation of DHQ hospital Batkhela, setting up of grid station to overcome power outages and construction of bridge at Chakdara.