In what is being hailed as a landmark moment for Gilgit-Baltistan’s infrastructure, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan officially inaugurated the Tangir-Darel Expressway on Tuesday.
The 82-kilometer expressway, funded under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), has a price tag of Rs 10 billion and promises to dramatically alter two of the region’s most isolated valleys.
Standing before a crowd of local masses in the scenic but flood-prone Tangir Valley, CM Gulbar Khan has explained the project as a “historic breakthrough” for the area.
“For decades, the people of Tangir and Darel have lived in the shadows of neglect due to inaccessibility,” the chief minister said. “This expressway is more than just a road. It is the foundation for development, connectivity, and hope.”
Fast-Tracking Progress
Though the official project timeline starts in August 2025, construction work is already underway. Government officials keep on reporting that over 23% of the work has been completed, demonstrating the urgency with which the project is being pursued.
The expressway will include two key segments—Tangir and Darel Expressways—with Rs 6.03 billion allocated for the roads and Rs 5.09 billion specifically for construction.
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The project is targeted for completion by November 2027.
A Strategic Response to Nature’s Challenges
In recent years, the region has highly suffered from increasingly frequent landslides, cloudbursts and glacial floods which have damaged or closed critical routes like the Karakoram Highway and Babusar Pass.
The region will gain an alternative and more reliable route after the launch of this expressway—not just for local commuters, but also for emergency services, trade, and tourism. It is highly anticipated to provide a safety net during natural disasters and open doors for year-round mobility.
More Than a Road: A Development Package
The expressway inauguration was accompanied by the announcement of several new development projects for Diamer. These include:
• Water supply schemes worth Rs 5 billion
• A Rs 350 million RCC bridge for improved river crossing
• Healthcare and agricultural projects tailored to the needs of local communities
Together, these projects are strongly marking a comprehensive effort to bring basic facilities and economic uplift to an area that has often been left behind in national planning.
Voices of Hope
For the masses who’ve lived with fragile dirt roads and seasonal cut-offs for decades, the expressway is more than concrete—it represents dignity, access, and a future.
“We used to carry the sick on foot for hours to get to a hospital,” claimed by a resident of Darel. “This road will be going to alter everything for our children.”
With the Tangir-Darel Expressway now underway, the hope is that Gilgit-Baltistan’s most remote valleys will finally step into the mainstream of development.