Work on highway to start in 2008

Islamabad: Construction work on the 51 kilometres Peshawar-Torkham Expressway, at a cost of Rs 11 billion, will start in January 2008 and will be completed within three years, National Highway Authority (NHA) sources said on Sunday.

Sources sad that work on the Expressway will start from Surkamar near Bagyari and cross through the Shagai Fort, Ali Masjid, Char Bagh and Landi Khana, ending at the Torkham Post on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“The expressway is proof of the commitment the government is showing towards improving the communication system in the mountainous areas. It will not only benefit commuters, but will also ensure more job opportunities, development and improvement in tribal lifestyle “, sources added.

Sources said the Peshawar-Torkham Expressway would convert the single lane dilapidated road into a dual carriageway. The project will be completed in two phases. The estimated cost of the 17-kilometre section-II is Rs 5.4 billion while the 34 kilometres long section-I will cost Rs 5.64 billion.