Serious concerns have been raised over the ongoing 24-kilometer road construction project in five union councils near Thandiani, where plans to convert the road from blacktop to concrete have sparked widespread criticism.
At a press conference held at Abbottabad Press Club, prominent social activist and former PTI leader Javed Qureshi strongly opposed the decision to use concrete for the Thandiani road. Originally intended to boost tourism, the project is now under scrutiny amid allegations of massive corruption and poor planning.
Qureshi warned that the concrete road could become a "well of death," noting that the region remains snowbound for over five months each year. "How will vehicles be parked on a concrete road under such conditions? Daily accidents and fatalities are inevitable. Who will be held accountable?" he questioned.
He also alleged that the project's estimated cost has been inflated from Rs2.5 billion to Rs6.5 billion over the past two years, with the revised budget approved by the provincial cabinet. Qureshi accused influential political figures and elected representatives of remaining silent, effectively turning a blind eye to the issue and enabling the contractor's mismanagement.
The project affects nearly 500,000 local residents. Qureshi further disclosed that the Abbottabad-Thandiani road is part of a larger Rs27 billion development initiative supported by the World Bank. However, he claimed that approximately Rs2.75 billion of the allocated funds are being siphoned off under the pretext of project execution.
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