PESHAWAR, June 1: Deep potholes and wide cracks have appeared in Karapa-Gumbela section of the newly-constructed Indus Highway making journey unsafe for passengers.

Apart from making travelling a risk for the commuters, damages to the highways cause major financial loss to the national exchequer every year.

Official sources say the National Highway Authority has spent Rs8 million on the repair and maintenance of highways during the current fiscal year. This cost might be increased in future, particularly after the opening of Kohat tunnel, they added.

The Indus Highway has been constructed for dual purpose — to provide an easy access to Karachi and improve trade relations with the Central Asian States via Afghanistan.

The government had awarded the contract to a Chinese company to construct this international-standard highway and Karapa-Gumbela section of this was commissioned in 1998.

But in a very short period, the highway lost its shape and developed fractures. It is in a bad condition especially from Kohat onwards. Several meters long potholes and cracks appeared at different points have exposed the quality of work and material.

The sources said substandard material was used and the job was, too, was not done properly.

According to an NHA official, the highway was designed to bear around 13 tons of load in a vehicle, but drivers put 15 to 20 tons while travelling on this road. The repair work on the road is under way.