KOHAT, March 22: The Kohat tunnel project, which will replace the 11km-long narrow hilly track on the Indus Highway after its commissioning in April, will help save time as well as Rs70 million daily in terms of POL consumption, NHA project director Pervez Gul told Dawn on Friday.

He said the tunnel would also help reduce the ratio of fatal accidents significantly and earn huge toll tax.

Around 53,000 people had died in accidents that occurred on the hilly track since its construction in 1927, he added.

Mr Gul said 7,000 vehicles passed through this route daily, adding this number would go up to about 15,000 after construction of tunnel.

He said electrification of the project was completed on Thursday and also held a demonstration for its staff.

He said all gadgets that have been installed including the exhaust system and fire alarm worked satisfactorily and the tunnel was expected to be opened for vehicular traffic in mid-April after inauguration by President Pervez Musharraf.

Replying a query, he said foreign staff was hesitant to continue work fearing reprisals that was why efforts were being made to make the tunnel functional in the next few days, he added.

He said by completing the project ahead of its stipulated time period, the NHA had saved Rs900 million, which would ease the burden of paying back loan to a Japanese bank.