January 11, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 20, 1427

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CHITRAL, Jan 10: Chitral-Booni road is in dilapidated condition owing to lack of maintenance and repair since its completion in 1994. The 75-km-long road was constructed with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Passing through series of mountains, the road is vulnerable to natural hazards and needs annual repair.

Landsliding and debris on roadsides had reduced the width of the road to hardly six feet in most places.

Boulders from hills have made ditches in the road and are yet to be removed.

With every torrential rain and snowfall, the condition of the road is getting worse with ever rising number of accidents, but the department concerned is least bothered.

The road links upper and lower parts of the district and leads to Baroghil Pass, which borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan.

During the Shandur festival, thousands of tourists use the road.

With the completion of the under construction suspension bridge at Mastuj, Chitral will be linked with the Chinese market through this road.