3 years on, work on Gardez ring road yet to begin

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): The residents of south-eastern Paktia province say the survey and design of the Gardez ring road could not be completed since the project inauguration three and a half years ago.

The survey of Gardez ring road was launched on February 26, 2017 when officials had said construction work on the road would start in a month after the completion of the survey and design.

The project is one of the largest in the province, with a length of 42 km. The road was expected to be completed in four phases at a cost of five million dollars.

The provincial council, people and civil society activists have strongly criticized the delay in implementation of the important project.

MumtazKarkhel, a member of the provincial council, said the ring road around Gardez city faced no problems, including security problems, but practical work on it could not be started and about 20 percent survey has been delayed.

Karkhel said, "Such things show the weakness of provincial and central government agencies. A project that is inaugurated should be carried out in an orderly manner.”

AhmadullahAhmadi, head of the youth association, said, that the Gardez ring road was a major project for the development of Gardez city and any further delay or negligence in its affairs was unacceptable.

Ahmadi added: “Now is the time to start work on the road seriously. A month's work is delayed for years, it is a great shame.”

Zargar Afghan, a resident of Gardez's fourth district, said that due to the lack of a ring road, trucks from Dand Pattan, Khost, Paktika and sometimes Ghazni pass through Gardez.

Large vehicles have created a lot of chaos in Gardez. The type of negligence the government has been committing with projects in Paktia province is unparalleled,” said Afghan.

Governor Mohammad HalimFidai also acknowledged the delay in surveying the road and other matters, saying a nine-kilometre survey was still pending.

He said 16 kilometres of the Gardez ring road was under national procurement and 22 kilometres were under design. This year, he said, eight important roads, including the ring road, will be built in Paktia.

According to officials, the width of the Gardez ring road will be 60 meters in most parts and 40 meters in others.

Bk/ma