LOWER DIR: Deputy commissioner Mohammad Arif Khan on Tuesday inspected the progress on Kalpani-Talash Bypass, and directed the contractor to complete the project within the shortest possible time.

Mr Arif along with additional deputy commissioner (finance and planning) Gohar Ali, planning officer Naveedullah, executive engineer (highways) Nasir Iqbal and others visited the site to check quality of work.

The 10-kilometre bypass was inaugurated in 2015, but work on it started in 2016 during the previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf in the province.

The contractor halted work several times due to non-availability of funds.

The XEN highways informed the officials that work on the project had been resumed as the government recently released funds for it. He said there were 16 box culverts and 30 pipe culverts to be built on the road. He said asphalt work had already beencompleted on about four kilometers.

Mr Iqbal said after construction of the culverts the asphalt work on the remaining 3kms would be started.

He said the government allocated Rs30 million for the bypass, of which Rs20 million had been released, and the remaining amount would be released soon.

DC Arif directed the XEN highways to ensure completion of culverts as soon as possible, and maintain quality or work.

Later, the deputy commissioner also visited the under-construction Sanam Dam project in Adenzai tehsil.

The government has allocated Rs1.9 billion for the project, 70 per cent work on which has been completed.

According to an engineer of the executing company, the project would be completed by June 30 this year. He said a total of 2,150 acres of barren land would be brought under irrigation on completion of the project. Correspondent