SHANGLA: The residents of Shangla district have demanded of the authorities to ensure quality work on the ongoing road projects in the region.

These roads are being rebuilt under the World Bank Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KP-RAP).

Shangla comprises mountains and rugged terrains, where fatal traffic accidents often occur due to the poor condition of roads.

Taking into account the difficult terrain and dilapidated road conditions, the government included several road projects in the World Bank-funded project to ensure safe, smooth travel for residents.

Currently, work on widening and constructing retaining walls is underway on several major roads, including Yakhtangay-Puran, Dandai-Chakesar, Karora-Ajmeer, Karora-Chakesar, Puran-Machkandai, Chawga-Kuz Paw, and Martung-Senkarai roads.

Residents of Puran, including Jamat-iIslami`s Dayan Ghafar, and Chakesar alleged that the contractors were using substandard material and an insufficient amount of cement in the retaining walls, which could collapse with minimal pressure.

Karimullah, who is a local nazim, told reporters that they personally inspected under-construction roads and found the quality to be extremely poor. He added the contractors did not even water the newly-built retaining walls, which is essential for durability.He noted that the contractors were not locals and had been repeatedly informed to follow the standards defined in the project`s work orders.

Dayan Ghafar said the construction companies were compromising the quality.

He recalled that roads built to a similar standard in the past could not last even a year, resulting in the wastage of taxpayers` money.

Mr Ghafar also criticised the lack of oversight, saying neither elected representatives nor the district administration officials visited the sites to monitorthe quality of work, which compelled locals to step in themselves.

Haider Ali Khan from Chakesar expressed concern about the ongoing work on Dandai-Chakesar and KaroraChakesar roads.

He said despite several meetings, protests, and requests to the administration, the contractors continued delivering substandard work.

Abdul Munim, PTI MPA from PK-29, told Dawn that he was aware of the poor quality of work.

He said both the construction companies had been asked to improve stand-ards, but they continued to ignore instructions.

`Recently, I learned that the contractors working on Puran-Machkandai and Martung-Senkarai roads were attempting to switch the road surface from asphalt blacktopping to cement in a bid to increase their profit margins,` the MPA said.

He added he submitted a formal letter to the secretary communications and works department in Peshawar on March 25, urging intervention and requesting the project be kept as asphalt-based.