Bamyan-Wardak road to be completed next year

 KABUL)): Construction work on the second portion of a highway that connects central Maidan Wardak province with Bamyan has begun, an official said on Tuesday.

The highway between the capital of Wardak and Bamyan City, a €100,000,000 (id=”mce_marker”29,646,000) project, is viewed by citizens as a significant step toward economic prosperity.

The Public Works Ministry says the first phase had been completed and the second phase would be ready this year.

The project involves the construction of a 500 metre-long tunnel, the second longest after the Salang tunnel, bridges, culverts, protection walls and galleries along the highway, the ministry adds.

Deputy Public Works Minister Ahmad Shah Wahidi told Pajhwok Afghan initial works on the highway that started in 2006 had finished last year at a cost of 35 million Euros. The first phase was completed by a Chinese construction firm, he said.

A local construction firm shared a contract with Iranian company to complete the second phase, said Wahidi, who expressed his satisfaction with job of the two firms.

The 82-kilometer highway crosses the Hajigag pass that links Bamyan City with Maidan Shahr. Italy has pledged 64 million Euros for the project, according Wahidi.

mrh/ma

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