13.5km Babusar Tunnel to be part of four-lane project reducing travel distance by 120km
ISLAMABAD:
The National Highway Authority (NHA) has approved the construction of a new 172-kilometre motorway from Mansehra to Chilas via Kaghan, Naran and Jhal Khand, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, who chaired the meeting, announced that the new motorway (MNJC) will provide an alternative route to the Karakoram Highway (KKH). Due to this strategic route, travel distance on the KKH will be reduced by up to 120 kilometres.
The project will be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the motorway will be built from Mansehra to Kaghan, Naran and Babusar Top. In the second phase, the project will be completed from Babusar Top to Chilas.
A major highlight of the project is the construction of the 13.5-kilometre Babusar Tunnel, which will become the longest tunnel in Pakistan. Keeping future requirements in mind, this four-lane motorway will have the capacity to be expanded to six lanes.
Modern rest areas will be built every 25 to 30 kilometres for commuters, and specialised trucking terminals for goods transport will be established on both sides of the motorway.
Highlighting the economic significance of the project, Khan said that traditionally, trade from the Arabian Sea to China via existing routes consumes an immense amount of time and leads to a massive wastage of financial resources.
In contrast to this lengthy and costly transit, the new motorway will be directly linked with China, connecting Western China to the ports of Karachi and Gwadar. Khan said this network will serve as the fastest, shortest and most cost-effective route from the Arabian Sea to Western China, drastically reducing transit times and expenditures while proving to be a real game-changer for the sustainable development of Gwadar Port.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the federal minister issued directives to the concerned authorities to finalise all technical aspects of the project within the stipulated time frame. The secretary communications and chairman NHA were also present during the meeting.
