SWABI: Entrepreneurs at Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate here have demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately start reconstruction work on Topi Bridge, which was washed away by flash floods about a week ago.

Speaking at a meeting here on Monday, they said due to the damage to the bridge traffic had been diverted to Kotha causeway but it could not absorb the heavy trailers due to its dilapidated condition. He said bridge’s reconstruction was vital as supply of raw material to the industrial estate had been disrupted.

Members of the Gadoon Industrial Association said the trucks carrying the raw materials had been forced to use the insecure route via Ghazi instead of the district headquarters. Because of the new route, the goods transporters were now demanding more fares, putting extra financial burden on the industrialists and also delaying the transportation of raw materials to finished products from the industrial estate.

The industrialists appealed to the provincial government, especially KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar, to order immediate reconstruction of the bridge.

On the occasion, Mohammad Zahid Shah, president of the association, said they planned to meet PTI leaders to apprise them about the difficulties being faced by industrialists after collapse of the bridge.

“Industry without strong communication links could not survive. We need well-carpeted roads and reconstruction of the bridge,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTI district coordinator Rangaiz Khan said the provincial secretary communication and works had already visited the site of the collapsed bridge. He quoted the secretary and engineers of communication and works department as saying that work on reconstruction of the bridge would start as soon as possible. He said that Asad Qaisar had also directed immediate start of work on the bridge.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016