Started twenty eight years ago, the road stretch from Kota First Morh to Sandote in Balakote still lies incomplete, with the authorities only managing to construct two kilometres of dirt road so far.
The locals, including Sarpanch Nusrat Ayaz Balakotvi, said,”Balakote tehsil is located exactly along the Line of Control and we have beendeprived of basic facilities. While we suffer due to the ongoing disturbancealong the border, the government is only increasing our hardships.”
They further said, “Public Works (Roads and Buildings)department started the construction of a road from Kota First Morh to Sandotein the year 1991 and till date only 2 kilometres of dirt road has beenconstructed. The remaining five kilometres is nowhere to be seen.”
They added that a bridge was constructed on the road atZinda Peer about five months ago, but the government “forgot” to constructapproach roads. “Of what use is the bridge without an approach road? What do wedo with it without a road?” they asked.
Castigating the authorities, the locals have demanded aprobe into the delay.
On being contacted, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mendhar, SahilJandyal, assured to look into the issue on priority.