CHITRAL: Booni road had been constructed some 40 years ago by a Chines construction company but no work assumed on that road by Communication and Works Department. Now this road has been handed over to National Highway Authority (NHA) after federalization who started construction of Upper Chitral and Shandor road after forty years which brought a wave of happiness among the people of the area.

 

With the construction of these roads, on the one hand, the number of accidents will be reduced by providing transport facilities to the people and on the other hand, it will also lead to the development of tourism in this backward district. The total length of this road under the supervision of National Highway Authority NHA is 153 km while its width is 42 feet. The road also includes 23 bridges, culverts, retaining walls, drainage and shoulders.

 

According to NHA project director Tariq Musa Memon, Rs 16.55 billion has been sanctioned for PC-1 of this project which will be completed in two years and road has been divided into four parts. Volunteers of Chitral Development Movement (CDM) a non-political organization fighting for road construction in Chitral, inspected the road under construction and expressed satisfaction over it.

 

CDM members also called on Manzoor Ahmed Afridi, Deputy Commissioner, Upper Chitral District and demanded that immediate steps be taken to pay compensation to the owners of private lands coming in this road so that the work would not be hampered. The land in the road should be assessed in connection with the land compensation so that they can be paid the land compensation on time.

 

The CDM delegation comprising over Chairman Waqas Ahmed Advocate, Shabbir Ahmed, Inayatullah Aseer, Maulana Israr-ud-Din Al-Hilal, Liaquat Ali, Sher Hakeem and others. They demanded that Work should also be started on the roads of Chitral and it should be continued even after the local body elections so as to alleviate the hardships of the people of Chitral who are losing many precious lives in road accidents.

 

NHA consultant Ahmed Khan Linga says that this work will be completed in two years and the work is very standard. CDM members also thanked the federal government and NHA officials on behalf of the people of Chitral who are working on the long awaited demand of the people which will reduce accidents and boost tourism in this backward area.

 

It Will be lead to the development of tourism. Talking to our correspondent, CDM Chairman Waqas Ahmed Advocate said that work is being done on government lands for the construction of this road which we appreciate but also surveying the private lands of the people. Provide timely compensation so that work is not disturbed in any way. He said that work on Torkho road has been going on for last 12 years but recently the contractor has been left it and have gone to home for winter vacation.

 

He demanded the federal government to start work on the Brugel road so that tourism in the area could be promoted. He demanded immediate work on Oveer Road, Kusht Bridge, Arandu Road, Karimabad, Garm Chashma and Ayun Bamburit Valley Kailash roads. He also demanded that last year’s catastrophic floods devastate the beautiful area of Reshun. The locals have given their land for road construction as the old road was damaged by flood but they were not paid land compensation they should also be compensated immediately. CDM members returned to Lower Chitral after inspecting the Mastuja road construction work.