RASC News Agency: Numerous residents and civil activists in western Afghanistan assert that the Taliban’s Public Works Department has proven ineffective and incompetent in the reconstruction and repair of the Herat-Kabul highway. Hamid, a resident of Farah province in western Afghanistan, told RASC News Agency on Thursday, May 23, that the condition of the Herat-Kabul highway has significantly deteriorated compared to the past, causing numerous problems for residents of Herat and the western provinces of Afghanistan.
He stated that the route from Herat to Kabul spans over a thousand kilometers, and the poor condition of the roads has led to widespread dissatisfaction. If the Taliban were to undertake the resurfacing of this highway, it would alleviate all the issues faced by the public. Similarly, Sahel, a resident of Kabul province, reported to RASC News Agency that the deteriorating condition of the Herat-Kabul highway has created substantial difficulties for all segments of society.
He noted that the damaged roads extend travel time, and if the roads were repaired or resurfaced, the travel duration would be significantly reduced. He added that currently, if someone wishes to travel from Kabul to Herat in large 404 buses, the journey would take two to three days and nights. He emphasized, “If the reconstruction of the Herat-Kabul highway is prioritized, the travel time will undoubtedly decrease.”
Gulab Shah, a bus driver on the Herat-Kabul route, told RASC News Agency that the poor condition of the highway has inflicted severe financial losses on bus owners and travel companies. He explained that each time he travels from Herat to Kabul or vice versa, he has to spend substantial amounts on tires, mobile parts, and other small and large expenses due to the road conditions, just to continue his daily work.
He noted that the price of a pair of tires for 404 buses used to be 50,000 kabuli rupees, but it has now risen to 80,000 kabuli rupees. He added that if the Herat-Kabul highway is resurfaced or repaired, these costs for bus drivers will be eliminated. Meanwhile, the officials in the Taliban’s Public Works Department in Herat have not commented on this matter.
It is worth noting that the Herat-Kabul highway is one of the longest highways in Afghanistan, and its deteriorating condition has caused widespread concern.
