Heavy trucks damage under-construction road

Tarbela Road being built at an estimated cost of Rs2 billion

HARIPUR:

Residents in Haripur have expressed concerns over the deteriorating condition of the under-construction Tarbela Road, funded with a substantial amount of Rs2 billion.

The road, initially built for the Tarbela Dam construction, is facing destruction due to the continuous operation of overloaded 22-wheeler trailers transporting sand from Angersar Block No 04.

According to locals, these trailers, allegedly without route permits, indulge in overloading sand day and night. Labourers manually load the sand from one trailer to another before proceeding to their destination. This activity not only poses a financial threat to public departments and mine owners but also affects the ongoing construction of the Tarbela Road from Kotke Barahzai to Ghazi Interchange.

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Despite the enforcement of axle load laws on all roads in Pakistan, the area seems to lack proper regulation, causing financial losses to authorities and hampering the road construction process. A citizen recalled the history of the road, mentioning its earlier destruction and subsequent re-carpeting in 1997.

He emphasised the recent damage caused by heavy dump trucks from the Ghazi Brotha construction firm, leading to 20 years of inconvenience for the local population. The efforts to revive the road were initiated by former federal minister for power development Umer Ayub who secured funding of Rs2 billion for its complete reconstruction. Despite a temporary halt in funding, the construction is now back on track.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2023.