Fed up with Kabul-Kandahar road’s bad condition: Drivers

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Drivers on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway have been complaining about the highway’s deteriorated condition, saying the vital southern route has been damaged in the past 20 years by roadside blasts, clashes and overloaded trucks.

They said trucks loaded with goods faced more troubles, adding that in the past it took only one day to reach Kandahar City from Kabul but currently it consumed more than a day to reach Kandahar City.

Khairullah, a truck driver, told Pajhwok Afghan News the highway from Kabul to Kandahar City was bumpy and bridges and culverts were damaged.

“Drivers are fed up with the current condition of the highway, past conflicts, blasts and overloaded trucks have destroyed the road. Our trucks daily develop technical faults and there is daily a traffic accident happening,” he complained.

Another truck driver Mohammad Saqib said it took more than a day to reach Kandahar City from Kabul, adding in the past when the road was fine an individual could reach Kandahar City from Kabul till evening.

Ghazni Public Works Department Director Mohibullah Abbas acknowledged drivers’ complaints about the Kandahar-Kabul highway and said these problems would be soon addressed.

He said the Public Works Ministry had completed the survey of this key highway and its reconstruction would be launched soon.

The Kabul-Kandahar Highway is 500 kilometres long and is one of the busiest highways in the country. Drivers and passengers often demand its rehabilitation.

nh/ma

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