BAJAUR: The long-awaited rehabilitation of the Inayat Kallay-Sadigabad Road, which connects the people of three tehsils to rest of the country, has yet to be launched despite the project was approved some 15 years ago, causing hardship to commuters and transporters.

Residents and transporters told Dawn that the six-kilometre stretch of the road had become impassable due to its dilapidated condition.

`This road was constructed just months before Bajaur was granted the status of an agency by the government in 1973. It has deteriorated to the point where it resembles a dry riverbed,` Farman Khan, a driver, lamented.

He said the road was in good condition until 2008, but it deteriorated significantly due to a lack of maintenance and rehabilitation afterwards.

Ikram Khan, a social activist, told Dawn that the road was one of the worst in thedistrict despite it links the people of three tehsils Khar, War Mamond and Lowi Mamond to rest of the district and country.

The transporters said poor condition of the road was damaging their vehicles and causing accidents.The residents urged the provincial government to ensure the road`s immediate rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, sources in the local road and highway department told Dawn that a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme was approved in 2010,but it could not be implemented due to a lack of funds.

They said the then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan had also announced reconstruction of the highway during his visit to the district in November 2019.However, the sources said no work was done on the road due to non-release of funds.

Meanwhile, an official of the department said a scheme to reconstruct the road is likely to be included in the upcoming Annual Development Programme.

M O T O R C Y C L E S IMPOUNDED: The police impounded scores of motorcycles for traffic rules` violations during a crackdown spanning over the three days of Eidul Azha, said a statement issued on Monday.

It said the action was aimed at preventing potential incidents through strict enforcement of traffic regulations.

According to the statement, most of motorcycles were impounded as the riders were underage, and without helmets. Other motorcycles were impounded for reckless driving and speeding.

However, the statement said all impounded motorcycles were later returned on assurance from parents to not allow their children to indulge in traffic rules` violations and rash driving.