Allocation of funds for road in Oghi demanded

MANSEHRA: Traders and residents of Oghi on Wednesday urged the government to allocate funds for the blacktopping of Battal Road, which was in a dilapidated condition.

“The government had earmarked Rs220 million for the blacktopping of the Khatai-Oghi-Battal Road, but the contractors left the project incomplete owing to lack of funds. Now, the remaining portion has also deteriorated, making travel extremely difficult,” Mian Saidur Rehman, a traders’ leader, told reporters in Oghi.

Flanked by traders and residents, he said that despite the release of funds for the blacktopping of the Khatai-Battal Road, the contractor only completed a portion of it from Oghi to Battle several years ago. Now, even that section was in a terrible state.

“Drivers have stopped using this road for fear of damaging their vehicles, leaving passengers, government employees, and students to suffer,” Rehman said.He added that the road is completely destroyed from Chajar to the Battle area.

“The people of Oghi and Tanawal rely on this road to access the Hazara Motorway and the Karakoram Highway. However, due to its severely damaged condition, they are unable to travel through this route,” Rehman said.