SWAT: The residents of Charbagh, Khwazakhela and Bahrain tehsils expressed concerns on Tuesday over construction of Mingora Gravity Water Supply Scheme near Fizagat Park, saying the ongoing work resulted in traffic disruption.

They said that the construction work, spanning several months, resulted in major obstacles due to excavation activities along the main road from Baghderai to Mingora. The accumulation of debris and earth along the roadway considerably narrowed its width, causing inconvenience to commuters, they added.

“The ongoing construction work near Fizagat Park has now blocked almost half of the road. Thousands of vehicles traverse daily this road, connecting the three tehsils of Swat. However, due to construction activities, the road experiences frequent blockades.” said Anwar Anjum, a resident of Mangalwar.

Residents said that the road also served as a crucial link to Shangla. They said that the road connected thousands of people from upper Swat and Shangla to lower Swat.

“Typically, it would take around 30 minutes to travel from Mingora to Charbagh. However, due to the ongoing construction work, the journey now takes almost two hours,” said Ihsan Khan, a resident of Charbagh. He added that during the month of Ramazan, they struggled to reach home timely for Iftar due to the delay caused by the construction work.

Locals expressed apprehension regarding the influx of thousands of tourists during Eid vacations. They said that tourists utilised that road to access upper Swat.

“In normal circumstances, the road experiences blockages due to the large number of tourists from various parts of the country. If the construction work continues during Eid vacations, it will pose a significant problem to both tourists and locals,” said Nawab Ali, a resident of Bahrain.

In response to public grievances, Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan instructed removal of debris from the road and its reopening to traffic during a meeting regarding the ongoing Mingora Gravity Water Supply Scheme project.

The focus of the discussion was on maximising facilities for tourists during Eid vacations. Representatives of water and sanitation service company, ZKBK project manager, PMCSC resident engineer and other officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2024