PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): The public works’ directorate in Baghlan province has warned that if rough patches at the Salang Passes are not repaired it might remain closed in winter.
The public works directorate has charged that the body responsible for the monitoring and rehabilitation of Salang Pass has no plan to reconstruct and keep it functional during the snowy winter. Shafiqullah Rehmani, director for public works in Baghlan told Salam Watandar that the northern track of the pass immediately needs a rehabilitation otherwise it would not be able to sustain traffic in winter. “The road right from the entrance of the tunnel till the Khanjano district is up-rooted, if it is not reconstructed before winters a human catastrophe might emerge”, he warned.
Meanwhile, Gen. Rajab Salam, director for the Salang monitoring and rehabilitation authority, has asserted that new plans are in sight to ensure smooth traffic. He told Salam Watandar that much of the damaged parts of this busy route have already been reconstructed, and work is underway on the remaining parts. “We have put plans in place to keep this route open throughout the winters just like we did in the past”, he said.
It is worth noticing that Salang Pass is a major road link between nine provinces in the north with the capital Kabul.
ENDS
