KOHAT, Dec 3: The Japanese and Malaysian technical staff resumed excavation of the multi-billion Kohat tunnel project after two months on Monday following clearance from their respective missions in Islamabad, the project director told Dawn.

The 43 engineers, including the project chief of the Japanese construction company Taisei, and technical staff of other consultant companies will arrive in Kohat on Saturday. The consultants include the Pacific Consultants International, Mouchel Consulting, UK, Nespak and Engineering Associates.

The work on the project being funded by the Japan Bank International through the National Highway Authority had been stopped following US air strikes on Afghanistan on Oct 7.

It may be recalled that the Japanese and Malaysian governments had directed its 43-member staff excavating the 1.888 kilometre long Kohat tunnel to return to Islamabad and as a result the work on the vital project, a component of the Indus Highway project, was stopped.

The NHA repeatedly assured the foreign staff that there was no danger to their lives from the local people, but the respective governments were adamant that their citizens should at least come back to Islamabad till the things were normal in the region.

At that time, the defence ministry had also refused to take the responsibility of the foreign staff engaged in the excavation of the Kohat tunnel project.

The project director, Pervez Gul, sad that the excavation of the tunnel was due to be finished by February 2002, but now it would be delayed by at least three months due to the unanticipated developments taking place in the country.

Seventy per cent excavation has already been completed and only 400-meter portion remains on the northern Darra Adamkhel side. The whole project, which was to be completed by July 2003, would also be delayed by a few months, he added.