The unnamed official said " the project forming part of the Gilgit-Shando-Chitral road
would provide an alternative route to the CPEC. He said that detail design and
feasibility study of the Shandoor-Chitral section has been completed while
pre-feasibility study for 216 kilometer Gilgit-Shandoor section has been completed.
The official said that the new road will be an
all-weather road so that it could facilitate the CPEC route during the winter
season as well. Moreover, he informed, it will provide another route to Chitral
other than the Lowari Tunnel. The estimated cost of the 345-kilometre road is
Rs45 billion.
In the 6th JCC of CPEC held in 2016, it was agreed
to include Chitral CPEC road from Gilgit, Shandoor, Chitral to Chakdara in the
CPEC portfolio. He said that the road starts from Gilgit town located on Indus
Highway and ends at Chitral town located on the Nowshera-Chitral Highway.
About the present condition of the road, he said it
was constructed in 2002 by the provincial government but its sharp curves and
steep gradient made the movement of heavy traffic difficult and unsuitable.
On the objectives of the project, he said that it
would connect adjoining areas and valleys, which would help boost tourism and
create new job opportunities for local residents.
“The project will provide better communication
system to the people of the area and after completion of Lowari tunnel, this
road shall serve as an alternate to Karakorum Highway,” he maintained. Pakista Today