CHITRAL: People of Chitral have criticised the National Highway Authority over the poor maintenance of the three major arteries in the region.

They told reporters that the Shandur Road, Garam Chashma Road and Bumburate Road were “federalised” a few years ago but they’re in bad shape.

Chairman of the Chitral Development Movement Waqas Ahmad said that after the federalisation of those roads, their condition was worsening due to the failure of NHA to maintain them.

He regretted that the part of the roads that passed through hilly terrains and other areas remained closed in the winter season due to landslides and avalanches, but the NHA didn’t send workers in toclear the way.

Mr Ahmad said that the civil society of Chitral re-opened such roads on a self-help basis to traffic with the help of the district administrations in Lower and Upper Chitral.

He said that keeping in view the topography and harsh climatic conditions of the area, heavy machinery should be kept on standby in different valleys to mobilise without wasting time in case of closure.

When contacted, NHA assistant director (maintenance) in Chitral Amir Zeb said the roads of Shandur and Bumburate were under construction, so their maintenance was the responsibility of the project contractor and not the NHA’s.

SNOWFALL: The Chitral valley recorded snowfall on Thursday.

Snow began falling in the valley from Lowari to Broghil and Shandur areas in the morning and lasted for hours.

A total of 14 inches of snowfall was reported in Broghil, nine inches in Lowari Pass and two inches in Chitral city.

The snowfall led to the closure of the road, connecting Chitral with Gilgit-Baltistan via Shandur Pass, to vehicular traffic. However, the approach road to the Lowari Tunnel remained open.

When contacted, district police officer Lower Chitral Iftikhar Shah said vehicular traffic to and from Chitral via the tunnel wasn’t disrupted, with the police deployed there to help out travelers.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025