Datta-Kotkay Bypass to Ease Traffic and Boost Tourism
The government has approved a Rs. 580 million project for the construction of the Datta-Kotkay Bypass, a strategic road that will connect the Karakoram Highway with the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road. The initiative, approved by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, is designed to ease traffic congestion in Mansehra and nearby areas while improving access to key tourist destinations in northern Pakistan.
Once completed, the new bypass will provide a shorter, faster, and safer route for travelers heading toward Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the scenic valleys of Kaghan and Naran. The improved connectivity is expected to significantly enhance tourism and boost local trade and economic activity.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a newly constructed government middle school in Huddobandi on Sunday, Kamal Saleem Swati, the provincial deputy president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), described the project as a “game changer” for regional mobility and economic development. “This road will save time, reduce traffic jams, and open new opportunities for tourism and business in the Mansehra district,” he said.
Development Drive to Address Long-Standing Public Needs
During the event, Kamal Saleem Swati highlighted the government’s commitment to reviving long-neglected infrastructure projects. “We have launched initiatives that were ignored for years. Our focus is on building better infrastructure and improving people’s quality of life,” he said.
He also mentioned that students of the Huddobandi school had been attending classes in temporary setups after the previous building was declared unsafe and demolished. The completion of the new school building marks a key milestone in the area’s education development.
Furthermore, Kamal Saleem Swati announced that work is underway on farm-to-market roads and pavements in Safada Village Council, with an allocation of Rs. 100 million from the KP Assembly Speaker’s development fund.
Meanwhile, Safada Village Council Chairman Basharat Ali Swati praised Speaker Babar Saleem Swati’s consistent efforts in securing funds for crucial infrastructure and road development projects in the region, emphasizing that such initiatives will strengthen connectivity and support the growing tourism potential of the area.
