KOHAT, Nov 17: Eighty per cent work on the Rs6.5 billion Kohat Tunnel Project (KTP) has been completed, and the tunnel will be opened for traffic in May when connected with the vital Indus Highway.

A permanent feature of the 1.885-km-long tunnel is the eruption of three springs during its excavation. But a Japanese firm, Taisei, had made ample arrangements for the safe disposal of the gushing water through laying giant underground pipes.

Tunnel project Director Pervez Gul told Dawn on Saturday that after the completion of the tunnel, distance between Karachi and Peshawar would be reduced by 400km, which would save much of the time and fuel.

“The installation of most modern gadgets like lights, fire fighting equipment, exhaust fans, generators and other emergency arrangements will be completed by April, and in May it will be opened for normal traffic.

The people will be rid off the 11-km-long hilly track between Kohat and Darra Adam Khel which has so far claimed 53,000 precious lives since 1927. The distance between Kohat and Peshawar will be curtailed by 20km making it a 35-minute safe journey”, Mr Gul said.

The bypasses and inter-sections would provide short cuts to the people of the southern and northern tribal parts of Kohat who want to travel to Islamabad and Peshawar.

An important link road had been constructed to connect the tunnel with the Hangu bypass which would serve as an important route between Afghanistan and the major cities of the country.

The tunnel would be managed by a highly trained staff of the National Highway Authority. At two points inside the tunnel, there would be parking facilities for the punctured vehicles and first aid.

On average 400 vehicles ply on this section of the Indus Highway which would also generate handsome revenue for the government in the shape of toll tax, Gul also said.