Drivers want Helmand-Kandahar highway repaired

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Drivers in southern Helmand province have asked the government to rehabilitate conflict-damaged roads.

Public Works Department officials, however, said a report regarding damaged bridges and culverts had been shared with the ministry.

Hayatullah, a driver, said the security situation on the Helmand-Kandahar road had improved, with robberies coming to an end.

However, he lamented, the highway was in dilapidated condition. Most of the bridges and culverts have been destroyed, according to Hayatullah.

“Now that all problems have been resolved and people are happy, roads are in bad shape. We want the government to pay attention to this issue.”

Naqibullah, a trucker, confirmed they no longer faced security issues and things had improved. But the road is still lousy, causing the people inconvenience.

Because of the ramshackle highway, drivers could not reach their destinations late and find it hard to follow traffic plans.

Most of the time, he complained, trucks and cars developed technical faults.

Public works official Eng. Ahmad Waheed Sahil said they had been trying over the past four months to rebuild several sections of the road.

A plan for future rehabilitation of the highway had also been drawn up, the official added.

“For the current solar year, we have shared our suggestions with the ministry and hope this road, bridges and culverts on it will be reconstructed,” the official concluded.

nh/mud