Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan plans to formally kick off construction on the Abbottabad-Thandiani Road, a provincial government megaproject under the integrated tourism development project.
While presiding over a progress review meeting on development projects in the province’s roads sector, the chief minister stated that every effort was being made to ensure that taxpayer money was used wisely and profitably to ensure the best value.
According to the details, in a presentation to the meeting on road projects, it was revealed that construction on the 24.3 km Abbottabad-Thandiani Road had begun and would be completed at a cost of Rs. 3 billion.
The CM was also informed that construction equipment had been placed on the 22-kilometre Mankyal-Bada Sarai-Jabai Road site, which was expected to cost Rs. 5.7 billion to complete.
Both initiatives, according to the chief minister, are critical for facilitating visitors and promoting tourism in the region, and he warns all parties involved that any irrational delays in project implementation will not be tolerated.
It is to be mentioned that these projects are part of the Kite project, which is funded by the World Bank and includes Mankyal (Swat), Ghanol (Mansehra), Thandiani (Abbottabad), and Madakalasht (Chitral).
Moreover, Mehmood Khan, who presided over a meeting last month to review progress on development projects in the Abbottabad district, directed officials to begin work on rehabilitating the Ayubia Chairlift within one week.
The chief minister was also updated on the status of development projects, and it was revealed that the Galiyat Development Authority had launched a project to restore the Ayubia Chairlift.
The chief minister directed all authorities to devise a workable strategy within the confines of the applicable rules and regulations so that the chairlift could be rehabilitated as soon as possible.
He further stated that work on rehabilitating the Abbottabad-Thandiani Road would begin soon and directed the concerned parties to take the necessary steps to mobilise the necessary machinery on the project’s site.