ZARANJ (Pajhwok): Three months after Pajhwokpublished a report highlighting public complaints over the poor condition of the Chakhansur district road in southwestern Nimroz province, graveling work on the route has now been completed and the road has been reopened to traffic.
On January 19, 2026, Pajhwok Afghan News published a report titled “Shortages of water, health services, schools affect parts of Nimroz”, in which residents of Chakhansur district complained about the deteriorating condition of the road linking the district with Zaranj, the provincial capital.
Residents said the road, which had previously been gravelled, was severely damaged by floods and developed numerous potholes, prompting calls for proper reconstruction and asphalting.
Nimroz Public Works Director Mawlawi Jan Mohammad Badri told Pajhwok Afghan News that graveling work on the flood-damaged road, which began around three months ago, has now been completed.
He said the 20-kilometre-long and seven-metre-wide road project cost more than 8.87 million afghanis, funded by the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) through the Nimroz Public Works Department’s budget.
He added: “We are striving, in coordination with the provincial administration, to address the problems of Nimroz residents and implement further development projects.”
He said the completion of the graveling work had improved travel conditions for local residents.
Responding to a question about when asphalt work on the road would begin, he said efforts were under way to secure funding for the project and, if no budget is allocated this year, it would be included in next year’s development plan.
Badri also praised the role of media in highlighting public concerns, saying: “Your media outlet plays a valuable and responsible role in highlighting the problems of deprived areas, and these efforts are commendable.”
He stressed that accurate and factual reporting of public issues helps improve decision-making and the delivery of public services.
Meanwhile, Chakhansur district administrative chief Mawlawi Nooruddin Hamza thanked the Nimrozprovincial administration and the Public Works Department, saying residents previously faced major difficulties while travelling, but the completion of the graveling work had eased transportation problems.
He expressed hope that paving work on the road would begin soon.
Residents say travel has improved
Abdul Ghafoor, a resident of the district, said the road had previously been dusty and in poor condition, creating major difficulties for travel between Chakhansur and Zaranj.
He said the journey, which earlier took around one and a half hours, now takes about 45 to 50 minutes.
Shakoor, another resident, said parts of the road had been destroyed by floods and a stone bridge had been washed away, forcing vehicles to use a low-lying dirt track before rejoining the main road.
He said the situation had caused serious difficulties, especially for patients and families transporting emergency cases.
“When we transported pregnant women or seriously ill patients from Chakhansur to Zaranj, the road conditions made the journey extremely difficult and sometimes worsened their condition,” he said.
Local residents welcomed the completion of the graveling work and urged the government to begin asphalt paving as soon as possible to ensure a lasting solution to their transportation problems.
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