Drivers call for speeding up reconstruction of highways

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of drivers complain of experiencing problems travelling different highways and want the government to speed up their reconstruction.

Aseel, a trucker on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, told Pajhwok Afghan News busted and its reconstruction works must speed up.

He said: “The reconstruction of this road got under way five months ago but it doesn’t seem to end soon. I left Ghazni at 7:00am but reached Maidan Shahr at 4:00 pm.”

Mohammad Adel, another driver, complained: “Most parts of this road are broken. We face many problems travelling it.

“My vehicle often breaks down and I cannot afford to repair it” he remarked, urging the government to speed up efforts for rebuilding the road.

Farmanullah, another trucker also called for sustained efforts for the reconstruction of the Salang road to resolve passenger problems.

Haji Shafiq, a resident of of the area, said the government must reconstruct the highway to acceptable standards.

He added: “There is ubiquitous dust in this area and it falls on trees, whose fruits no one can eat.”

Noor Mohammad, a driver on the the Kabul-Nangarhar highway, asked the authorities to pay due attention to the road because some parts of it were damaged.

Hazrat Omar, a passenger, also confirmed some parts of the road become bumpy and uncomfortable for travellers.

Ashraf Haq Shanas , head of media office at the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW), told Pajhwok the reconstruction of the Kabul-Kandahar highway was ongoing.

The highway has been divided into seven portions. Right now the asphalting work is in progress on two parts. The asphalting of other parts will begin soon.

Most of MoPW projects were long-term initiatives and people must have patience and wait for their completion, he explained.

Haq Shanas added: “The reconstruction of the Kabul-Jalalabad highway is also planned for the current year. Retaining walls along this road and damaged parts will be reconstructed.”

The reconstruction of the Salang Highway was also going on and would be completed prior to winter, he concluded.

aw/mud