Islamabad OKs funds for Torkham-Jalalabad carriageway

KABUL government has approved the construction of an additional carriageway (ACW) from the Torkham border town to Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province.

A media report said on Tuesday the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) accorded approval to the re-rationalised cost of Rs7343.540 million of the 73.67-km carriageways.

Funds for this project will be provided from the $500 million pledged by the Pakistan government for the reconstruction.

Pakistan started construction work on the second lane six years ago, but failed to complete the project. Most small and big bridges have been damaged. Patients, commuters and drivers have been demanding an end to the delaying tactics.

Muhammad Hussain, a Jalalabad resident, says the road is often blocked by heavy vehicles. The Afghan government, he urged, should take up the issue with Pakistan so that people could heave a sigh of relief.

Public Works Director Eng. Rassoul Gul Faqirzai said most of the bridges had been washed away because of inordinate delays in the road completion.

rm/ma/mud

Visits: 4