Work on tunnel gains momentum

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Work on Lowari Tunnel located on Nowshera-Dir-Chitral Road (N-45) has restarted with full force and Rs18 billion project will be completed in three years. A source in the National Highway Authority (NHA) said the delay in the construction work was partially due to last year’s floods and disputes over payment between Korean construction company SAMBU and the NHA. The source said that the disputes were resolved on the instruction of the minister for communications. He said that when the Lowari Tunnel project began in 2005 it was planned to be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, the 8.54 km long tunnel was to be constructed with access roads, while in the second phase a railway track was to be laid.–Business Recorder]]>