MARDAN, July 15: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Sunday formally opened eastern and western bypass roads in Mardan city to traffic.  

The projects were completed within two and a half years at a cost Rs1.91 billion.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony at Sungi Marmar area, the chief minister said that like mega projects of Abdul Wali Khan University and Bacha Khan Medical College, the road projects would play great role in development and prosperity of Mardan district as well as its adjacent areas.

He said that no toll tax would be collected on the bypass rods from the people. He said that work was also underway on the northern bypass project, which would be completed at a cost of Rs1.67 billion. “Construction of this bypass road will not only complete ring of the roads around Mardan but will also add to beautification of the city,” he said.

Mr Hoti said that service roads along the ring roads, protection walls and five flyovers would be constructed with the total cost of Rs1.5 billion to keep flow of traffic smooth.

He said that the flyovers would be named after the names of great Pakhtun leaders. Later, the chief minister also inaugurated work on 14 kilometers Mardan-Charsadda road. The road will cost Rs910 million.

The chief minister also visited Tablighee Markaz in Janday area and met with elders of the Tablighee Jamaat.

He informed the religious leaders that provincial government would build a bridge with Rs12.8 million in front of the Markaz to avoid traffic mess on the road.—Correspondent