Work on lovari Highway tunnel completed

[Talal]

Secondary Lowari tunnel boring complete

Chitral -- Boring of 1.8 km secondary Lowari tunnel between Ziarat and Ashret is complete and could see breakthrough any time at a formal function. Chitralis have demanded immediate opening of both tunnels for passengers passage so that time and money of the travelers is saved and price hike of eatables transported from down country over the pass at high rates is reduced

[Omar Usman]

A few months back I have been through it. Actually the tunnel has been completed way long time back but it still not open for normal traffic. The only thing completed is the roughly 14 km long "hole" through the mountain and it is passable with 4x4 vehicle or a "ghwagai".

There is no road, no electricity, no ventilation, no water proofing. It is one bumpy and very wet ride. You can go through if you are in an emergency but even for that you have to obtain a permit first.

I am attaching some pictures of it as-of June 2010.

[Talal]

And that is accurate since the report also says that only diggiging has been completed I was reading some criticism on this tunnel a few days back..one can only hope that NHA continues work on project

How recent are the pictures by the way since the work is currently underway on the project

[Omar Usman]

The pictures are from end of June 2010. But mind you .... the work is by no means 'underway'. It is all packed and stopped since 2009 when the main bore was completed (in around 30 years). Initially it was planned for rail-road. But at last minute ... somebody somewhere in the chain of governance decided to scrap the rail-road and make it road only. So it comes down to political interference. Maybe in the next 10 years we can see it working fully operational. But as I said, you can obtain a "permit" to go through.

Edit: Work is contracted to a Korean firm. And they are refusing to work further. I am told by site engineers that there is talk of complete design revamp in which the bore in itself does not mean anything.

[Talal]

The pictures are from end of June 2010. But mind you .... the work is by no means 'underway'. It is all packed and stopped since 2009 when the main bore was completed (in around 30 years). Initially it was planned for rail-road. But at last minute ... somebody somewhere in the chain of governance decided to scrap the rail-road and make it road only. So it comes down to political interference. Maybe in the next 10 years we can see it working fully operational. But as I said, you can obtain a "permit" to go through.

Edit: Work is contracted to a Korean firm. And they are refusing to work further. I am told by site engineers that there is talk of complete design revamp in which the bore in itself does not mean anything.

The project was started in 2003 under musharraf..what made you say that the main bore was completed in 30 years ?

Here is the info i have gathered so far and yes i am aware of the train to road revamp...and that was done for good reasons

A. The locals wanted it to be a road tunnel since a rail one would be no good to them

B. It saved about 1.5 Billion Rs to do it this way


I am not sure on the korean firm taking a part in it anymore since that idea was dropped for the chineese one

China has agreed to extend support for completion of Lowari Tunnel up to Tajikistan and in improving the Silk Road to boost trade, spokesperson of the Ministry of Communication told Business Recorder. A joint ministerial committee meeting between Pakistan and China was held here on Monday.

Also the work has restarted..As per NHA website the work is 87.1 % complete, the floods and operation had halted the project but its going on once more

Here is a picture from August 05 and as you see the work had restarted




This one is from August 18th

[Omar Usman]

Dear, the picture you have shown is from Chitral side of the tunnel. The picture I have pasted is from the Dir side of the tunnel. I have pictures from the Chitral side as well and they are exactly the same as that of the news report. The machinery is there, the site buildings are there .... but there is NO work.

And even if everything is dandy and sorted, It is still highly unlikely that work resumes because in a month or so, snow will stop the work again.

I am not sure what exactly you are trying to prove here ..... If the work has started, that's good enough. If the work has not started, then it eventually will. But the way Pakistan works, it seems it will be complete in the next 10 years. It will be a miracle if it is completed within 5. What's so political about this?

The news reports are wrong. The NHA website is blatantly wrong. I have close contacts and relatives associated with the project if that will convince you.

This is end from my side on this.

[Omar Usman]

And besides last time I visited in 1995, there was a 1.4 km tunnel. There was no Musharraf in 1995.

[Talal]

Dear, the picture you have shown is from Chitral side of the tunnel. The picture I have pasted is from the Dir side of the tunnel. I have pictures from the Chitral side as well and they are exactly the same as that of the news report. The machinery is there, the site buildings are there .... but there is NO work.

And even if everything is dandy and sorted, It is still highly unlikely that work resumes because in a month or so, snow will stop the work again.

I am not sure what exactly you are trying to prove here ..... If the work has started, that's good enough. If the work has not started, then it eventually will. But the way Pakistan works, it seems it will be complete in the next 10 years. It will be a miracle if it is completed within 5. What's so political about this?

The news reports are wrong. The NHA website is blatantly wrong. I have close contacts and relatives associated with the project if that will convince you.

This is end from my side on this.

first you said there was no work, then you said there is work..now your saying there might or might not be any work...the pictures i gave you are more recent than the ones you gave me and unless i am mistaken regardless of which end the work is going on in, it is still considered working on the project.

You might have close contacts, unfortunately i can only base my argument on something that is verifiable and authentic

Quote:
Secondary Lowari tunnel boring complete


Chitral -- Boring of 1.8 km secondary Lowari tunnel between Ziarat and Ashret is complete and could see breakthrough any time at a formal function. Chitralis have demanded immediate opening of both tunnels for passengers passage so that time and money of the travelers is saved and price hike of eatables transported from down country over the pass at high rates is reduced...--GH Farooqi, 04 Oct 10

And besides last time I visited in 1995, there was a 1.4 km tunnel. There was no Musharraf in 1995.

The project started in 2003, whatever happened before that is irrelevant and even 1995 doesnt cover your 30 years stretch mate

Construction work on Lowari tunnel to start in 3 months time says President Musharraf
Peshawar, Pakistan | 10 Jun, 2003

President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday declared in categorical terms that construction work on much debated Lowari tunnel would commence within coming three to four months time.

He made this announcement while addressing a gathering held to inaugurate Kohat Tunnel in Kohat. The President said, he would perform the ground breaking ceremony of the Lowari tunnel project and expressed optimism that it would be completed in four years time.

He hoped that like the Kohat tunnel project, Lowari tunnel would also be completed before its stipulated period with the cooperation and assistance of the Japanese government. The expertise and experience gathered by the engineers of National Highway Authority (NHA) in the execution of Kohat tunnel project, would be utilized in the construction of Lowari tunnel.

He told the gathering the government was aware of the importance of the communication infrastructure as it played a key role in the socio economic development, and poverty alleviation.

President Musharraf said, there was no dearth of funds for the execution of development projects, however, the development funds have to be used honestly and judiciously. "Spending Rs. 5 or 6 billion on project like Kohat tunnel carries no significance, the only thing which matter is sincerity and will to do", however, he opined if it were misused then it is a colossal waste of national resources.

"No matter, if you spent Rs.50 or 100 billion on development projects if it brings socio economic benefits to common man", President Musharraf told.

Massive urbanisation on national highway like N 5 (G.T road), President Musharraf said, was adversely affecting the fertile agriculture lands besides creating traffic hazards on the road. He said, the lopsided urbanisation alongside the highways is shrinking the precious agriculture lands. In order to rectify the situation, the President called for diversification to lessen congestion on the national highways.

Referring to a point raised by Governor NWFP in his address, the President directed NHA to look into possibility of construction of Khushal Garh Bridge on Pindi Kohat road. The President also mentioned about road projects in northern areas which including Gilgit Astore Chelum road, and Chilas Gilgit Chitral via Shandur. These projects would open up northern areas to the tourists. He was highly appreciative of the National Highway Authority in the development of communication infrastructure of the country.

He told the gathering that these projects would only yield benefit to the country, when Pakistan has harmonious relations with other countries. Pakistan, he said, could not survive in a vacuum and it has conducted itself smoothly in the present day global society.

In this regard, the President underscored the need for internal stability and a pragmatic approach in foreign relations, otherwise, he warned, all the efforts taken to divert the international trade through Pakistan would prove futile.

[Omar Usman]

as you wish. I am not here to prove anything. Everybody can judge for themselves.

[Talal]

Neither am I bro

[Baygham]

....................................

The project started in 2003, whatever happened before that is irrelevant and even 1995 doesnt cover your 30 years stretch mate

"The planned tunnel, which will cut through the Lowari Pass, was originally conceived in the 1970s. Work on the tunnel originally began in 1974. However, then-president Zia-ul-Haq stopped construction due to political reasons. "

Lowari Tunnel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Talal]

"The planned tunnel, which will cut through the Lowari Pass, was originally conceived in the 1970s. Work on the tunnel originally began in 1974. However, then-president Zia-ul-Haq stopped construction due to political reasons. "

Lowari Tunnel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

yeah but it STOPPED in 1974...started again in 2005

you "can" count right ?

The planned tunnel, which will cut through the Lowari Pass, was originally conceived in the 1970s. Work on the tunnel originally began in 1974. However, then-president Zia-ul-Haq stopped construction due to political reasons. In September 2005 work on the tunnel restarted. Construction vehicles transited the completed tunnel in January 2009.[1]. The tunnel was temporarily open in the winter of 2009-10 when the Lowari Pass was closed.[2] It is expected to be fully open in 2012.[3]


This mega-project is ranked 5th out of top 20 development projects currently underway (according to President of Pakistan website).
The tunnel will reportedly reduce the current 14-hour drive from Chitral to Peshawar by half. Moreover, people of Chitral have to travel from Afghanistan and then enter back in Pakistan during the winter season as Lowari top is closed for any traffic for most part of the year. Chitral remains virtually inaccessible in the winter, the tunnel will also facilitate all-weather transportation. Some Chitrali natives are concerned about the impact the potentially increased tourism will have on the region.


A South Korean construction company, SAMBU, has been assigned the work on the tunnel. It is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs.8 billion ($133 million US). Currently the project is overseen by Mr. Salman Rashid, General Manager of National Highway Authority (NHA). Salman Rashid is a retired Lt. Col. of Pakistan Army, he belonged to the Corp of Engineers. He has been a part of several major construction projects all over Pakistan.

[Baygham]

yeah but it STOPPED in 1974...started again in 2005

you "can" count right ?

call headquater and recheck, zia was not around in 1974

and r u a representitive of the paki establishmnent here or why are you sticking to nonsensical arguments.

We dont give a hoot, who did what or is doing what, We dont care, we wont care if they built "janat-ul-firdoos" in every street in pakhtunkhwa, we will still want our freedom and them out.

[Talal]

^ Do you think i care if you give a hoot or not ?..stop trashing this section, go lounge in that jinnah or pakistan 'disintegrating" thread or whatever

n hey your the one using wikipedia as your source .. i just posted whatever you didnt