ISLAMABAD (November 30, 2010) : Only 43 percent of the Lowari Tunnel project has been completed with Rs 10 billion increase in its cost as compared to the original PC1, it is learnt. The original PC-1 of the Lowari Tunnel was worth Rs 8 billion, the National Highway Authority (NHA) 200th Executive Board meeting was informed here on Monday, sources who attended the meeting revealed.
Various developmental schemes were also reviewed in the meeting presided over by NHA Chairman Altaf Ahmed Chaudhry. A detailed briefing was given on Lowari Tunnel project and a comparison of rail and road tunnel was given to the board members.
It was informed that the cost of the rail tunnel was Rs 19 billion, while road tunnel is being completed at cost of Rs 18.1 billion which is comparatively low. It was further told that 43 percent project has been completed. Original PC-1 of the Lowari Tunnel was of Rs 8 billion, and the cause of increased cost is dollar rupee parity. In 2003-04, a dollar was worth Rs 58 while at present its rate is Rs 85.50. The other cause of increase in cost is that length of the access road to tunnel has been increased from 0.9 km to 1.9 km.
It was further informed that rail tunnel was converted into Road Tunnel with the view to promote trade links with Tajikistan. Moreover, Road Tunnel will further facilitate domestic and regional trade. The NHA Chairman informed the Board that Rs 37.4 billion were allocated in the current fiscal year for NHA, and till now only Rs 9 billion have been given to NHA, while this amount should be 50 percent of the total budget. This cut, he said, has caused delay in completing the NHA projects. He said, the previous heavy rains and floods badly damaged the NHA network and Nespak has calculated Rs 27.4 billion as restoration cost. NHA has spent Rs 800 million from its budget for opening the damaged roads and bridges in the flood-affected areas.
PC-1 for improvement and widening of 141 km of Chakdara-Chitral road was also presented and the board decided to rationalise the cost before forwarding it to Planning Commission for approval. NHA Executive Board also decided that 6 monthly progress reports of NHA projects would be presented to the board, and first report be submitted by end of December 2010.
The meeting was also attended by senior officers of Planning and Development Division Munir Ahmed Anjum Chief (T&C), Manzoor Ali Khan Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Communications, Muhammad Kazim Idris Chief NTRC, Qazi Iftikhar Ahmed Vice President Nespak and NHA officers.
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