South Korea has already pledged USD 78M for the Malakand tunnel construction project through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund, an official of NHA said. The 9.7km project includes three bridges and approach roads on both sides of the tunnel.
The Malakand tunnel project would also reduce pressure of traffic on Torkham Road because it would link Dir-Chitral with Tajikistan and other Central Asian Republics.
A Korean company, M/s Chunil, prepared the feasibility study of the 2.9km-long tunnel. Malakand Pass lies between Dargai and Batkhela and is situated at an altitude of 470m and 663m, respectively.
The feasibility conducted by South Korean firm M/s Chunil Engineering Consultants studied three alignments.
The recommended alignment envisages Dargai as starting point of the tunnel and Batkhela as end point.
The National Highway Authority initially opined that at a time when the Lowari tunnel is being constructed, it would not be much useful to start work on the Malakand tunnel. However, due the public representatives’ pressure, it changed its stance.
