CHITRAL: Work in the repair and expansion of Garam Chashma road has been started by National Highway Authority (NHA), ChitralToday correspondent reported.
The NHA has taken over the road from Chitral town to the Dorah pass on Afghan border from the provincial Communication and Works (C&W) Department.
NHA Assistant Director Alam Zeb told ChitralToday that at present the Garam Chashma valley road was 18 feet wide but in future it would be 21 feet wide with six-foot shoulders on both sides.
He said the NHA was repairing and expanding the road from Lowari tunnel to Chitral town and from there to Dorah pass.
Local people, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction over the pace of work on the Garam Chashma road and said its reconstruction was long overdue.
They said reconstruction of the road would not only minimize road accidents but would also promote trade and tourism in the scenic valley.
It may be noted that expansion and repair of Chitral-Shandur road is in progress for over an a year.
Work on Chitral to Kalash valley road was launched with much delay and has now been suspended causing resentment among t he e local people.–GH Farooqui