MANSEHRA, Jan 31: Most of the roads in the town and suburban areas have been in a dilapidated condition for many years but the works and services department and the tehsil municipal administration have failed to carry out repair work despite numerous public complaints.

Except the Itchrian-Som road in Seron valley and a few in Balakot tehsil, no big road project has been approved for the district during the last 20 years. On the other hand, elected representatives of the area have been claiming credit for the roads constructed 25 to 30 years ago.

The busy Kutchery Road leading to Haddo Bandi and Sufaida, with broken and chocked drains on its sides, has not been repaired for many years. The area often remains crowded because administration, telephone and election offices, civil and revenue courts and the Saddar and city police stations are located there.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao had last year promised allocation of special funds for the repair of the road but it is yet to be fulfilled. About 500 metres of the Chinar Road, that connects the municipal bus stand and the Karakoram Highway with the Kashmir Road, has been damaged for two years.

Millions of rupees drawn every year from the municipal funds for maintenance and repair of roads are allegedly embezzled.