ALPURI: Hundreds of residents of a number of villages in the upper areas of Alpuri staged a protest in Pirabad immediately after Eid prayers against the dilapidated condition of the only access road.
Hundreds of locals during the protest rally demanded the immediate construction of the only road linking a number of villages. They also announced plans to expand their protest movement for the road’s reconstruction.
It was an unusual scene witnessed in Pirabad on the occasion of EidulFitr where residents took to the streets right after Eid prayers to protest the road’s poor condition. Demonstrators urged the government to take emergency measures for the prompt repair and construction of the Pirabad-Kas road.
The protesters carried placards and banners and chanted slogans, saying the road served as the only main and essential route for Pirabad and several adjoining villages.
It may be mentioned that given the area’s difficult mountainous terrain, there is no alternative route for transportation.
The protestors said that frequent accidents were occurring due to the road’s poor and unsafe condition, leaving many injured and increasing the risk of loss of life. The road is badly damaged at many points, with large potholes, piles of stones, and landslides making it even more dangerous.
According to locals, travel on the road had become nearly impossible for ordinary vehicles, forcing people to rely on tractors and four-wheel-drive jeeps.
Local leaders said that the road project was approved after the 2005 earthquake, but despite nearly two decades having passed, no significant progress has been made - raising serious questions about the performance of the concerned authorities.
They urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and relevant officials to immediately begin construction of the Pirabad-Kas road and complete it on a priority basis.
The protesters warned that if their demands were not met, they would expand their movement, including blocking the Bisham-Khwazakhela main highway.
