JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN- Today, the USAID Alternative Livelihoods Program for the Eastern Region (ALP/E) holds a ground-breaking ceremony of a new, US$1.5 million infrastructure project—the improvement of Kama Road, from Kama Bridge to Sangar Saray.  Nangarhar’s Governor Shairzai (or Deputy Governor), other provincial and district authorities, and representatives of Nangarhar Provincial and Kama District Shuras are expected to attend the event at Nawabad in Kama district.

 

The 14.6 km road segment to be rehabilitated by ALP/E will facilitate access to basic health and education services for about 130,000 inhabitants of Kama, Goshta and Lalpur districts, and allow farmers from several densely populated villages on the irrigation scheme to transport their agricultural products to Jalalabad City in almost half the current travel time.

 

USAID, in close cooperation with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and Ministry of Public Works, agreed to fund the project in response to numerous requests from Nangarhar’s government and community leaders who estimate that the rehabilitation of Kama Road will boost economic activities and employments opportunities in the three districts served.  The Ministry of Public Works has also agreed to provide maintenance. 

 

In preparation for the project, ALP/E conducted a number of consultations with provincial and district elders to ensure that the local communities and land owners understand and support the rehabilitation activities on Kama Road. 

 

Through a competitive bidding process, ALP/E awarded the contract to the Afghan-Pakistani Joint Venture SKB/Saboor Mashuq Construction and Rural Company.  The planned improvements will include: upgrading the existing two-lane 7m-wide road using Double Bitumen Surface Treatment (DBST); reinforcing the 2m-wide shoulders with river gravel; constructing one new and repairing 15 culverts; and building two 20m-long concrete protection walls.

 

ALP/E is a four-year USAID initiative aiming to accelerate broad-based, sustainable economic development in eastern Afghanistan, and reduce poppy cultivation by providing legal sources of revenue for those who are currently dependent on the opium industry.