Bamiyan Urban Projects Collapse Before Completion

DID Press: Local sources in Bamiyan told DID News Agency that poor construction quality and widespread corruption in municipality projects under Taliban administration have led to the waste of millions of Afghanis. According to the sources, more than 100 million Afghanis collected from municipal sanitation fees and local taxes were spent on projects already showing serious signs of decay before reaching even one year of completion.

Roads Damaged After First Rainfall

Last year, Bamiyan Municipality launched several asphalt and road-paving projects across the city with extensive publicity campaigns. However, residents told DID Press that the quality of the work has been deeply disappointing.

Major roads, including the Bamiyan central market road and Mir Hashim Square — considered among the city’s key traffic routes — reportedly began deteriorating only months after completion, with asphalt layers peeling away and road surfaces collapsing after rainfall.

Residents also complained that streetlights installed around the city were of poor quality and failed to provide proper lighting.

Gholghola Restaurant Project Facing Structural Concerns

Sources further reported that a municipal restaurant project near the historic Shahr-e Gholghola area, expected to open in coming days, was constructed with minimal engineering standards.

According to local accounts, the building used insufficient cement and low-grade construction materials, raising fears the structure may not remain durable even for a single year.

Corruption Allegations and Contract Manipulation

Findings obtained by DID Press indicate that several municipal contracts were allegedly awarded through non-transparent procedures to selected companies.

Informed sources claim profits from these low-quality projects are being shared between Bamiyan’s mayor and Mohammad Khan Ghazi, the brother of the province’s former governor. Sources allege that technical oversight was deliberately weakened to reduce costs and maximize profits for those involved.

Environmental Campaign Marred by Failed Tree Planting

Corruption allegations have also extended to environmental projects. Bamiyan Municipality reportedly planted around 3,500 saplings during this year’s tree-planting campaign around the city, but residents later discovered the saplings lacked proper roots and dried out before growing.

Local estimates suggest each sapling was worth at least 150 Afghanis, raising further concerns over misuse of public funds.

Public Frustration Growing

Residents accuse municipal authorities of misusing public money at a time when citizens face severe economic hardship and are still required to pay sanitation fees and taxes.

Locals say funds intended for urban development and public welfare are instead being directed toward symbolic projects and personal financial interests linked to Taliban officials and affiliated networks.

Municipal authorities in Bamiyan have not yet issued an official response to the allegations.