LAHORE – Wapda is deploying two state-of-the-art tunnel boring machines (TBMs) at a cost of Rs8 billion on the strategically important 969 MW-Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project. This will reduce construction period of the project by about 18 months, resulting in an estimated benefit of Rs.60 billion. The two German-manufactured TBMs, being imported by the contractor, are expected to reach Pakistan by the end of this month.
Wapda Chairman Shakil Durrani stated this while briefing the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq during their visit to various components of Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project including underground powerhouse, diversion tunnel, de-sander and main tunnels etc. Federal Secretary Planning Asif Bajwa, AJK Chief Secretary Muhammad Shahzad Arbab, Planning Commission Member Energy Shahid Sattar, Wapda Member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah, Member (Power) Muhammad Qasim Khan and senior officers concerned were also present during the visit.
Speaking on the occasion, Wapda Chairman said that Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project, scheduled to be completed in 2016, would provide about 5.15 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid. 
Earlier, Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project Chief Executive Officer Lt. Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Zubair during the briefing said that overall progress on the project stood at 30 per cent while the crucial diversion tunnel to divert the river Neelum had also been completed in October last year in record time of two years adding that construction work on all the three sites is in full swing.
He also explained the reasons behind cost escalation of the project.
Neelum Jhelum Consultants Project Manager Christiaan Groskoff, briefing the visitors said that redesigning of the project in the wake of devastating earthquake of 2005, delay in acquisition of land and unstable supply of electricity had been the major challenges for the project.