PESHAWAR, Aug 26: The government will build 336kms of roads with US assistance in Fata’s six tribal agencies, a handout issued here on Sunday said.

NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai was briefed that the US government’s Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) would finance the two-phase project.

The project would cost Rs1.597 billion and so far 100km roads, mostly in remote border areas, had been completed, it said.

Lynne Taracy, principal officer of the US consulate, Bob Traister of the NAS and other senior officials attended the briefing.

The governor was told that the security situation and harsh weather conditions had hampered the smooth implementation of the project.

Under the project, 18 prefabricated steel bridges had been planned and the design for 13 bridges had been completed. Work on two bridges, one in Mohmand Agency and the other in Khyber were nearing completion.

The projects to counter narcotics in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber Agencies were also reviewed in the meeting.

The projects have been initiated to improve road access to remote areas, utilisation of water resources and introduce crops to replace the growth of poppy, it added.

So far 270km roads in Bajaur Agency, 184km roads in Mohmand Agency and 39km roads in Khyber Agency had been built under the Area Development Projects.