LANDI KOTAL: The 27-kilometre road from Matani, Peshawar, to Jamrud in Khyber Agency could not be opened to traffic despite its inauguration by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor on March 24, 2016.

Ofhciais told this correspondent that security forces stationed in different parts of Bara sub-division where major portion of the road existed had expressed their reservations about the lack of security arrangements for vehicular traffic on the said road.

They said that the security officials flatly refused to allow opening of the road as they had been demanding installation of surveil-lance cameras around the recently-reopened Bara Bazaar and establishment of additional security checkposts along the road.

The opening of road to traffic was delayed after its inauguration in March last year due the non-completion of one of the three bridges in Akkakhel area near Bara Bazaar.

However, traffic was not allowed to ply on the road despite completion of all the bridges as security officials then insisted on provision of `foolproof security`, officials said on condition of anonymity.

Khyber Agency political agent, however, expressed his optimism that the road would be made operational for all practical purposes after the installation of surveillance cameras and security checkposts.

He said that the local administration had allocated Rs8.8 million for the said purpose and the `task was almost complete`.

He said that his administration had held a series of meetings with commissioner,Peshawar, who was provided with details of the enhanced security measures on the road.

Construction of the Matani-Takhta Bag (Jamrud) road was initiated in Feb 2015 with the financial assistance of Rs11.5 million from the US government.

Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had said at the inauguration ceremony held in Besai area of Bara that the new road would help expedite bilateral trade with Afghanistan besides reducing traffic mess in Peshawar.

TWO KILLED: At least two volunteers of a pro-government peace committee were killed and one was injured in a clash here on Tuesday.

Khasadar officials said that two groups of Zakhakhel peace committee clashed over possession of a centre (markaz) in Brag locality of Bazaar-Zakhakhel area. As a result, two volunteers, identified as Qadeer and Bahadar, were killed, while Hukamran khan was injured.