PESHAWAR – The 81-kilometer Swat Expressway, a mega project of PTI Govt inKhyber Pakthunkhwa, has entered into final stage of completion and wasexpected to be completed by April this year.Provincial Highway Authority (PHA) senior official told APP on Wednesdaywork on 1300 meters long twin tunnels at Malakand District, a majorcomponent of Swat Expressway, were near completion and would be opened fortraffic soon.The official said 50 kilometer portion of the expressway from Karnal Sherstadium to Katlang interchange had been made operational and opened for allkind of vehicular traffic on December 29 last year.He said the target of completion of expressway is April this year andhectic efforts are underway to complete it on schedule time.In addition to two tunnels, 21 bridges and 25 acres service area on eachside of the expressway are being constructed near Katlang Mardan.Presently, Swat expressway is four lanes that would be converted into sixlane motorway in later stage.Its total cost is about Rs 40billion including an allocation of Rs 6.8billion for purchase of land, he said adding share of KP Govt in theproject is about Rs 11.5billion while the remaining to be paid by donoragency.The official said extra care was being adopted in disbursement of paymentamong land owners and this process was done through Deputy Commissioners.It is being constructed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with help ofSEPCO Company of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) that would get itsinvested money back through toll taxes in 25 years after its completion.Being declared environmental safe project, traffic movement on expresswaywould be monitored through an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) throughdifferent modes of cameras and prompt help would be provided to commutersin case of road mishaps.Near the expressway, the KP Govt has planned to construct CPEC City atNowshera to promote industries, business and housing sector in the province.The 81-kilometers Swat Expressway commences from Karnal Sher interchange inNowshera District on Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway and will conclude atChakdara Dir Lower district after passing through 21 bridges and 1300meters twin tunnels.The people of Malakand, Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Chitral, Shangla, Mardan andSwat districts would largely benefit from this mega project on whichconstruction work was started in December 2016. It will pass throughDobiyan, Ismaila, Katlang, Bakhshali, Palai and Chakdara.He said tourism being main sector of attention of PTI Govt would beimmensely promoted in Malakand division after construction of Swatexpressway and fruits, horticulture, agriculture and woolen sectors wouldget upward boost.
Rs 40 billion Swat Motorway mega project inauguration announced
