Islamabad: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has finalized a plan to construct a tunnel at the Salt Range section of the M-2 Motorway, aiming to address growing safety concerns and reduce the number of accidents in the area.
According to official sources, the proposal has advanced to the technical evaluation stage to select a consultant for conducting a comprehensive feasibility study. Four firms have already submitted bids, and the firm offering the most competitive proposal will be awarded the contract to develop both the feasibility report and tunnel design.
The decision to pursue the tunnel project follows sustained concerns from various stakeholders over the rising number of traffic accidents on this steep and accident-prone stretch of the motorway. The matter was brought to the attention of the Prime Minister’s Steering Committee, which later recommended that a tunnel be constructed to enhance safety and traffic flow through the difficult terrain.
A recent meeting chaired by NHA General Manager Hafiz Tahir finalized the initial scope of the project. Sources within the authority confirmed that the tunnel is intended to provide a safer, smoother route for motorists, especially for heavy vehicles that often face braking and control issues on the current road alignment through the Salt Range.
Once a consultant is selected and the feasibility study completed, work on the tunnel will officially begin. The project is being viewed as a critical infrastructure improvement, not only for reducing accident rates but also for streamlining cargo and passenger movement between Punjab and the federal capital.
Officials expect that the tunnel will help modernize one of the most challenging stretches of Pakistan’s national highway network, improving both public safety and logistics efficiency in the region.
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