Mazar-i-Sharif residents longing for ring road completion

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, complain that construction work on the city’s ring road was launched three years ago, but the project remains incomplete.

Hundreds of houses have been demolished as part of the ring road project, but it could not be completed in three years.

Mohammad Hassan Ayubi, a resident of the 7th security district of Mazar-i-Sharif city, told Pajhwok Afghan News that despite being an important project for residents of the city, the ring road’s construction had come to a standstill.

He believed if the project was completed, it would help reduce traffic snarls and resolve transportation related problems

Abdul Rahim, another resident, told Pajhwok that people had long been waiting for the road to be built. “Hundreds of houses were destroyed along the way when construction of this road started, but now the work has been stopped and it should be resumed.”

He said in winter season, water and mud on the under-construction road created problems for travelers.

Mohammad Israr, a resident of Amani Karteh area, told Pajhwok that construction work on the road continued for one year and the road was readied for being blacktopped. But now work on the road has been stopped since two years, he added.

He says: “When it rains, the road turns slushy and muddy and on sunny days, dust from the road enters our homes. We are fed up with the situation. The government should complete the road. “

Other residents interviewed also made similar complaints and urged the government to complete the ring road as soon as possible.

Deputy Governor of Balkh province, Noorul Hadi Abu Idris, told Pajhwok that efforts were being made to complete all incomplete projects to facilitate the people.

“The government has different programs, the ring road has also been discussed in meetings and work on it will start again, God willing.”

The ring road that starts from Kamgar Chowk and reaches Shama Chowk is about 17 kilometers long and 40 meters wide.

According to the previous government’s estimates, the road’s construction will cost 1.3 billion afghanis.

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