Residents of the districts beyond the Kokcha River in Takhar Province say that this transportation route has remained deprived of reconstruction and asphalt paving in recent years due to insecurity and ongoing conflicts. Despite repeated promises by the Taliban, parts of the road remain unfinished.
In a conversation with Axos on Wednesday, 3 Saratan, these residents stated that after the political change in 2021, work on the unfinished sections of the highway was halted and no practical steps have since been taken to resume the project.
According to them, repeated public appeals to restart the project have not yielded any results, and the relevant authorities have taken no concrete action in this regard.
Local residents emphasize that this highway is one of the key transportation routes in the areas beyond the Kokcha River; however, after many years it still remains in poor condition, with no visible improvements.
They say the poor condition of the road has created widespread transportation difficulties, increased travel costs, and significantly complicated the transfer of patients to medical centers.
In some cases, they add, patients have faced serious risks or even lost their lives due to delays caused by the road’s poor condition before reaching hospitals.
Meanwhile, some local sources report that the issue of the project’s suspension has been raised with the relevant authorities, but no practical decision has yet been made to resume construction of the highway.
Residents stress that the reconstruction and completion of this route should be prioritized in development plans, as the current situation continues to worsen not only transportation challenges but also the economic and social pressures on the local population.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
