Angry residents seek road construction

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The people of northern Baghlan province staged a protest demonstration, asking for acceleration of work on gravelling the Khinjan-Bannu Road, an official said on Saturday.

Work on gravelling the road was started in May 2013 at a cost of $16 million provided by the Ministry of Public Works.

Eng. Sibghatullah Kazimi, director of public works, said the company had stopped work because of delay in release of funds. The company has also threatened to pull out its machinery.

He said a committee had been formed to resolve the lingering dispute of funds delay between the stakeholders.

The project was set to be completed in 18 months; one of the protesters said, adding but the project seemed far from completion. The protesters blamed the construction company for using delaying tactics in completing the project.

The 38-kilometre long road connects Khinjan district with Bannu, Deh Salah and Pul-i-Hesar districts.

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