Construction of the $100m 1.9km Kohat road tunnel in Pakistan has stopped almost as soon as it began after the Pakistan Engineers’ Council complained about the way the project was awarded to main contractor Taisei Corp. of Japan.
The council alleges that Taisei, one of Japan’s largest contractors, does not have sufficient experience of working in Pakistan and does not have the appropriate registration and licensing documents.
As a result, Taisei was forced to suspend work on November 25, about three months after construction began.
Staff from Taisei and the design and construction supervision group, a JV of the UK’s Mouchel and Japan’s Pacific Consultants International, are remaining on site for the time being while the wrangle is resolved.
One source said: "It could take days to sort out, or months. It’s difficult to say at this stage."
The Kohat Tunnel and access roads are part of the 1200km Indus Highway, a strategic route between Peshawar and Karachi that is vitally important in the politically sensitive North-West Frontier Province.
The tunnel is expected to ease traffic congestion on the Kohat-Peshawar road across the mountainous terrain of the Kohat Pass to provide a faster, more direct and safer alignment for traffic. It will help replace the current N-55 highway which has hairpin bends on steep gradients and is impossible for articulated or trailer-trucks to use.
The Kohat Tunnel scheme is being partially financed by a $49m loan from Japan’s Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund.
