Prez wants ring road built in 9 months

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai has directed the authorities concerned to complete the mega “ring road’ project within the next nine months, an official said on Thursday.

The president issued the directives during a meeting with businessmen who called on him on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) on Wednesday.

MCI spokesman Musafar Qoqandi told Pajhwok Afghan News that the president took notice of the delay in work on the ring road project.

He said the president promised he would remove every hurdle hindering work on the 2,200 kilometre two-lane road network circulating inside Afghanistan. The road connects major cities.

Earlier, Public Works Minister Najibullah Owjan had said that work on the road project was postponed after the contractor company escaped from Afghanistan.

Testifying before the Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament last week, the minister said that the ECCI-METAG company officials had escaped from Afghanistan through the Bagram Airport, taking with them complete payment of the project.

The remaining part of the project requires $400 million to be completed.

nh/ma

Visits: 1