Swabi roads in a shambles

Published July 28, 2007

SWABI, July 27: Roads in Swabi district are in a dilapidated condition, creating problems for people, residents said. The ratio of accidents has increased due to the bad condition of roads.

Owners and drivers of the public transport have raised fares, putting an extra burden on commuters.

Residents said that the departments concerned paid a little attention to repair the roads.

Large potholes have appeared along the 18-km Swabi-Topi road as substandard material was alleged to have been used in its construction by the contractor.

Ditches have also appeared along the Topi-Tarbela road which widened with the passage of time and created difficulties for people and transporters.

Despite continued work on the 4-kilometer road between Topi and Hamlet, it could not be completed during the three years.

In Topi tehsil, the roads present the worst picture of government departments’ attitude towards the repair and construction of roads in the locality.

The main bazaar road in Topi was repaired last year, but it started breaking up and developed potholes due to use of substandard material.

The work on the Topi bypass road has also been suspended due to unknown reasons.

The 25-kilometre Swabi-Jehangira road also needed urgent repair. The Bamkhel-Murghaz road is a picture of neglect.

Yar Hussain is a congested town of the district where the roads are in a shambles, but the department concerned failed to repair them despite availability of funds.

The Swabi-Totali road also speaks volumes of the apathy of authorities towards improvement of roads to ensure public safety.

The Doubian-Yar Hussain road was rendered unusable as wide ditches had appeared along it.

Residents of the area said the road had been constructed during the Junejo government, but since then it had not been repaired. It is difficult to transport through the 4-kilometers Swabi-Maneri road because it is dilapidated and narrow.

The Maini-Topi road which was constructed about 20 years back also required due attention of the department concerned.

Only a part to the Government Degree College Kotha has been constructed while the remaining main part is in a bad condition.

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