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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs. 580 million project for the construction of the Datta–Kotkay Bypass, a key road that will connect the Karakoram Highway (KKH) with the Mansehra Naran Jalkhad Road. The project is expected to reduce travel time, ease congestion, and boost tourism in the scenic Mansehra and Kaghan Valley regions.
Mansehra serves as a major transit hub for tourists traveling to Kaghan Valley, Naran, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). However, the city has long faced heavy traffic bottlenecks, especially during the tourist season. The new bypass aims to divert inter-district traffic and create a smoother route connecting major tourist destinations.
The bypass, approved by KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, will serve as a strategic link between KKH and MNJ Road, opening new routes for both domestic and international tourists.
At an inauguration event for a newly built government middle school in Huddobandi, PTI’s Provincial Deputy President Kamal Saleem Swati highlighted the project’s importance for local development.
“This road will save time and reduce traffic jams for visitors traveling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and AJK. It will also promote tourism and trade in Kaghan Valley and other parts of Mansehra district,” he said.
He added that the government is addressing long-ignored infrastructure needs to enhance mobility and economic growth.
Kamal Swati also announced Rs. 100 million for farm-to-market roads and pavements in Safada village, funded through the KP Assembly Speaker’s development fund. Local leaders, including Safada Village Council Chairman Basharat Ali Swati, praised the ongoing infrastructure initiatives, noting that these projects will benefit both residents and visitors.
