KABUL, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have launched the construction of a key bridge in Yawan district of northern Badakhshan province in a bid to improve transportation and economic connectivity in the mountainous region, a local official said Tuesday.
The project is financed by a local organization at an estimated cost of 641,000 U.S. dollars, said Mawlawi Abdul Manan Mukhlis, a shadow district governor.
The bridge, measuring 82 meters in length, 15 meters in height, and 5 meters in width, is expected to be completed within two years, Mukhlis said, adding that the bridge will significantly facilitate travel and trade for residents in the area, many of whom rely on narrow and often unsafe routes to connect with neighboring districts.
Officials expressed the hope that such infrastructure projects will contribute to local stability and development by creating short-term employment opportunities and strengthening essential transport links across the province.
Badakhshan, a remote and mountainous province in northeastern Afghanistan, faces persistent infrastructure challenges due to its rugged terrain and harsh winters. ■