Residents of Lab Jar area show dissatisfaction from the narrow roads

KABUL (SW): On the part of the road, workers were busy in the reconstruction of the road; some were busy preparing asphalt materials, some of them were paving the road to make it ready for asphalt. The crowds of cars were jammed on the side of the road, cars were trying to pass, and each one tried to reach its destination sooner.

This road is one of the six roads that will be operational in three parts of the 15^th district of Lab Jar in Kabul. The reconstruction plan was approved four years ago but the work started this year.

Travelers and drivers were watching the construction on these roads through their car’s windows, and almost all of them were delightedly welcoming the construction of these roads with smile on their faces. At the beginning of the road, near the square on the right side, laid a private university and to the left, a mosque was build.

The residents of this area have had complaints about the construction of this road as well. They said that the width of the road is less and will cause traffic congestion. According to them, the small width of the road will cause them traffic problems and will create issues for their commute which could force them to stay in traffic jam for long hours.

These residence of the area said that at the beginning of the construction of this road, they had asked the authorities to add a bit to the width of the road, but apparently they did not pay attention to their request. They insisted that the road would be blocked during the winter (due to snow and rain) and their problems will increase instead of being solved.

Ahmad Wali and Haji Farid, residents of this area said the road was supposed to be 18 meters wide in the beginning, but now it is decreased to 5/6 meters. They accused the 15^th district (officials) for having hands in reducing the size of the road. The inhabitants of Lab Jar said that the road is not only related to them but all the residents of Kabul (and other citizens) are entitled to use it.

Mohammad Qasim, representative of the area said that he has repeatedly brought the issue to the attention of the authorities, but the least attention has been paid to their will. He said that because of the construction of this road, the houses on the sides of the road raised their walls, and the residents dug their septic-wells higher than the road, but despite of this much support of the inhabitants, authorities in the municipality did not pay any attention to them in order to increase the width of the road.

Lab Jar area representative said the response of the authorities in District 15 was: “A 6 meters width of the road was according to the master plan of the road and no one can change it”.

Mahboobullah Hidayat, responsible person for the construction of the Lab Jar roads said that the length of 6 roads and 5 streets which were soon to be paved and asphalt added will be 3.8 km, which costs 150 million AFNs. According to him, the works (asphalt) of these roads were 70 percent completed and the remainder will end until the winter arrives.

Mr. Hidayat said that on the basis of the Master Plan/Urban Planning Plan, a number of other roads were also planned to be at similar width. He added that the people of the area have complaint to them about the narrowness of the roads, but on the basis of the letter of the infrastructure department, these roads were designed on the basis of the map (master plan) and their length and width were fixed.

According to the municipality officials, the budget for the construction of the Lab Jar roads and streets were paid by the municipality. They were happy with the people’s cooperation in the construction and asphalt of these roads and streets, and they were doing their work better with the support of people. These authorities urged them that besides their support in the construction of these roads and streets, also to inform them in the cases of noticing defiance during the construction of these roads.  

ENDS