Cracks in Sher Khan port bridge worry traders, officials

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Cracks have appeared in the Sher Khan dry port bridge as a result of a recent earthquake, prompting traders and customs officials to ask the government for urgent repairs.

The 670-metre long and 11-metre wide bridge on Amu River, linking Afghanistan with Tajikistan, was constructedat a cost of more than $30 million, provided by the United States.

A pillar of the bridge cracked due to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed and injured more than 556 people last month, said the customs director at the Sher Khan port.

If the bridge was not repaired urgently, the link between Afghanistan and Central Asia would be cut, he warned, urging Transport MinisterMohammadullah Batash to take necessary measures. The minister has visited the bridge, pledgingall possible cooperation.

Batash, who led a delegation that heard problems of the port officials, called lack of land for municipality a branch of Da Afghanistan Bank branch as big challenges.

Non-implementationof the urban master plan, town construction, security situation and traders’ problems were other major problems facing the dry port, he said, promising to share them with senior officials in Kabul.

If the bridge, playing a crucial role in boosting business activities in the province, was not construction, traders would suffer a huge loss, businessman Abdul Razzaq told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“Before the construction of the bridge, we would shift our goods through boats.At times, the boat would sunk and inflict losses on us. But that problem was resolved seven years ago with the construction of the bridge,” he concluded.

myn/mud

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