MANSEHRA: The district administration cleared the landslide-hit Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road in Basal area of Kaghan valley to trafficon Thursday morning allowing thousands of stranded travellers, including tourists, to leave for their respective destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.

The road was blocked by landslides on Tuesday evening.

“Now, the [Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad] road is cleared to traffic,” assistant commissioner of Balakot Basharat Bibi told reporters in Basal area.

The AC and deputy superintendent of police Siraj Khan visited the area, met Hussain Deen of the Moon Restaurants and his employees and appreciated them for providing food to stranded travellers on humanitarian grounds.

Ms Bibi also visited the medical camp, where Rescue 1122 workers attended to tourists.

Travellers stranded since Tuesday evening depart

Meanwhile, some tourists told Dawn that the administrations of Mansehra and Chelas districts didn’t allow them and transporters to use the MNJ Road fearing landslides.

They said many commuters had left the mountainous area on foot to take vehicles near Battakundi and Soach to reach their respective destinations.

TOLL EXEMPTION: Transporters withdrew their threat to demolish the Khatain da Galla Toll Plaza in Balakot tehsil here on Thursday after the National Highway Authority exempted them of paying the road tax.

However, the toll collection from motorists will continue.

Hazara Transporters Association president Jan Alam confirmed the development and said the association had cancelled the toll plaza demolition plan following toll exemption for transporters.

“We [transporters] will fully cooperate with the toll plaza’s staff members for their smooth work,” he told reporters here.

Accompanied by general secretary of the association Pervez Khan Swati, Mr Alam said transporters paid toll at four points in Mansehra district alone, so they’re opposed to its collection in Balakot.

Meanwhile, an official told Dawn that the district administration was considering a proposal to claim its ‘due share’ in the Khatain da Galla toll for use on road repairs and maintenance.

He said currently, the NHA gave the administration a fixed amount from the revenue generated by the toll plaza, which was re-installed on the court’s orders two years ago.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2022