SHANGLA: The residents of Kana tehsil here on Monday blocked the Bisham-Swat Road in Karora area for about six hours to protest the slow pace of reconstruction work on an important artery.

A local action committee gave the call for the protest.

The protesters chanted slogans against the executing company and the elected representatives for failing to ensure the speedy completion of work on the main Karora- Ajmeer Road.

The protesters were led by Mohammad Naeem Khan Advocate, chairman of Kana tehsil action committee, and others.

The speakers said a year had gone by since the construction work on the 28-kilometre-long road began, but the contractor could not even complete a retaining wall along a portion of the road.

Blockade of main artery for six hours troubles commuters

They said they had been protesting for the reconstruction of the road for over a decade because they suffered greatly due to its dilapidated condition. They alleged the authorities concerned and the elected people had no interest in reconstruction of the artery despite the fact that it led to scenic tourist destinations of the district and could generate handsome revenued for both the government and local communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Mohammad Naeem said the people had complained to the deputy commissioner on several occasions about the slow pace of work on the road, but to no avail.

He claimed that only a single excavator machine was mobilised for execution of the over Rs2 billion project.

“We want timely completion of work on the road because the entire population of the tehsil uses the artery for daily commuting,” he said, adding people were troubled while shifting patients to hospitals on the dilapidated road.

Amirzeb Khan, another member of the action committee, regretted that elected representatives from the tehsil did not play their due role in resolving issues facing their voters.

He alleged that the contractor was deliberately delaying the work on the road.

“We have repeatedly approached the contractor, the World Bank, which is funding the project, and the communication and works department authorities for expediting the work on the road, but to no avail, forcing people to come onto the streets,” Mr Zeb said.

Sultan-i-Rome Advocate, another protest leader, said neither the deputy commissioner nor any other offi-cial was interested in ensuring early completion of work on the road.

Later, the Alpuri assistant commissioner along with the officials of the executing firm held negotiations with the action committee leaders, assuring them that pace of work on the project would be expedited as more machines would be arranged in coming days.

Following the assurance, the protesters dispersed.

The commuters suffered immensely due to the prolonged blockade of the road.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024