New Rs1.4 billion Pindi-Kohat bridge planned

ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) will spend Rs1.4 billion to construct Khushalgarh Bridge across the Indus River on the Rawalpindi-Kohat Highway (N-80). A source in the NHA told APP on Sunday that the project design has been completed and a project proposal of Rs1.72 billion has been recommended by the NHA Executive Board and forwarded for approval.

Under the plan, NHA will build a four-lane bridge over the Indus River. Approach roads at Kohat and Fatehjang are also part of the project. NHA will also be responsible for operation and maintenance of the new two-lane, two-way bridge. The NHA has already signed an agreement for provision of an interest-free loan of Rs700 million with MOL Pakistan and Oil and Gas Development Company.

The new bridge will be useful for transporting fuel from oil and gas fields around Kohat.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2011.