Residents of Canal Road and adjoining neighbourhoods in Mardan have demanded an independent investigation into the quality and execution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP), blaming alleged negligence and inadequate safety measures at the construction site for a series of road accidents near Women University.
Safety Hazards and Construction Deficiencies
Local residents said the accidents were linked to incomplete construction work, the use of substandard materials and inadequate safety precautions during the ongoing sewerage project. According to residents, construction debris has remained piled along the roadside for several months, while open manholes have been left uncovered at various locations for extended periods, posing a serious risk to motorists and pedestrians alike. They said the absence of proper safety barriers, warning signs and adequate street lighting had left residents of Canal Road, Gali Bagh and surrounding localities exposed to constant danger, particularly during the night.
Call for Independent Technical Committee
The residents called for the formation of an independent technical committee comprising representatives from the Local Government Department, the Public Health Engineering Department and engineers from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Mardan to conduct an impartial assessment of the project’s construction quality, pace of work and supervisory mechanisms. They said the findings should be made public to ensure transparency and accountability.
Public Investment and Accountability
The residents further noted that the sewerage scheme was being financed through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with an estimated cost of around Rs10 billion, which they said would be repaid over the next 12 years. Given the scale of public investment, they stressed that the project must meet the highest standards of quality, transparency and timely execution. They further maintained that if the project suffered the same shortcomings as the previous SUDP sewerage scheme, responsibility should be fixed and legal action taken against the institutions and officials found accountable.
Urgent Corrective Measures Demanded
The residents urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the relevant authorities to take immediate corrective measures by removing construction debris, covering all open manholes, installing adequate safety barriers and warning signs, improving street lighting around construction sites and ensuring the protection of public life and property until the project is completed.
