NHA yet to take over Chitral's federalised roads.

CHITRAL -- The local residents have feared that the approaching winter season will trouble them as the communication and works department has abandoned the three major arteries, including Mastuj Road, Garam Chashma Road and Kalash Road, due to their federalisation last August but the National Highway Authority hasn't taken over them.

The residents told Dawn that extraordinary steps should be taken for the winter season to ensure that the roads are fit for vehicles as most of them passed through the mountainous region.

The officials said the C and W department belonged to the provincial government, so it couldn't spend a single penny on the three roads following their federalisation.

Residents fear difficult times in winter season

They said the roads' federalisation was carried out hastily as the roads were reconstructed by the federal government in line with international standards for which funds had been allocated and tendering was ahead.

The officials said the department had machinery and workforce, which was moved to the hilly areas to reopen roads by clearing snow and avalanches during the four months long winter season.

They, however, said no officer of the NHA's maintenance wing had visited the district, especially the far-flung areas of Bubmurate, Birir, Garam Chashma, Booni and Mastuj to learn about their topography, so the residents feared awful situation after the first snowfall of the season.

The Chitral-Mastuj Road is 109 kilometers long, of Garam Chashma road up to Parabek is 67 kilometers and that of Bumburate road is 44 kilometers.

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