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Minister of Communication assures

efficient usage of Lowari Tunnel.

ISLAMABAD, 03 March 09:  Federal Minister for communications Dr Arbab Alamgir said he personally had a feeling that road traffic instead of railway through the Lowari tunnel would be more appropriate. The Federal Minister was talking to Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah whom he had invited to a special meeting on Monday to discuss the proposal put foreword by the later to commission the Lowari tunnel as a road tunnel instead of inducting a railway system into it.

The former Wing Commander thanked the Govt and its executing arm, the NHA, for constructing the tunnel, but said it would be imprudent to marginalise usage of the tunnel by restricting it to a mini rail tunnel despite spending billions on it.  He said even if the phenomenal purchase cost of the rail system was to be overlooked, the railway dispensation would be a white elephant and an obstruction, always under the threat of breakdowns, mismanagement and operating lacunae. He said as per experience, even bulldozers clearing snow from the Lowari roads cannot be maintained properly as after every two days of operations they become unserviceable for next one week with the typical excuse from the operators of "Purza Kharab Hai" (parts not working), so how can a sophisticated railway system be expected to be operated efficiently in that remote place.

He mentioned over two dozen road tunnels longer than ten kilometers (some narrower than the Lowari tunnel), including the 24 Km long 'Laerdal' road tunnel in Norway, all doing fine. He urged the tunnel be kept simple and said if we do not take right decision now, we would regret later, but only after billions from the national exchequer have been drained unnecessarily.

At the desire of the Minister, Wg Cdr Fardad Ali Shah held a detailed meeting with the Chairman NHA on the subject, during which the GM Lowari tunnel project explained his point of view in detail. However the Chairman NHA assured Mr Shah that his recommendation regarding making the Lowari tunnel road traffic worthy would be given a serious consideration and best decision in this regard, in the  interest of the people and the area would be taken. --(CN report)

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