Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, is undergoing a rapid transformation as municipal authorities push forward with extensive road construction projects, leading to the expropriation and demolition of thousands of private properties. This ambitious infrastructure drive, while aiming to alleviate severe traffic congestion, has displaced over 11,000 families and businesses since 2021, according to figures released by the Kabul municipality. For residents like Syed Murtaza Sadar, forced to dismantle his own home, the changes carry a profound personal cost.
The scale of Kabul's urban redevelopment initiative extends far beyond individual homes. Over the past four and a half years, municipal authorities have expropriated 11,278 properties across the capital to facilitate the construction of widened roads, flyovers, and underpasses, Naimatullah Barakzai, Kabul municipality’s representative for cultural affairs, told a news conference. This figure alone illustrates the breadth of the current administration's commitment to transforming the city's often-gridlocked arteries.
The push for new infrastructure is visible city-wide. Cranes dot the skyline. Excavators churn earth daily.
Syed Murtaza Sadar, a 25-year-old barber, stands amidst the wreckage of what was once his multi-story family home and business. The door that once opened into a family room now reveals only open air. Most of the floor is gone.
Walls and the roof have been systematically reduced to rubble. Sadar and his family faced the difficult task of tearing down their own building after municipal officials informed them of the expropriation two months prior. "This was our house and now I am destroying it with my own hands," Sadar stated, his voice heavy with resignation, as he paused from pulling down a brick wall. "It will be very difficult for us."
His family's barber shop and public bath, once vibrant hubs employing approximately 25 individuals, supported five extended families, each with three or four children. The loss of this income stream forces them to rely on dwindling savings while living in rented accommodation. Sadar expressed a hope that the compensation promised by the government would allow him to rebuild his life and business. "If the government gives us money, then God willing, I will be able to go back to work and I will be able to buy a house or build a house for myself," he explained.
Kabul municipality has financed these projects entirely through its own revenue generation. In the past four and a half years, the municipality has raised more than 28 billion afghanis, approximately $434 million, Barakzai confirmed. This internal funding mechanism allows the city to operate independently of external aid, a notable shift from previous administrations.
Mohammad Qasim Afghan, the municipality’s head of planning, announced that 233 additional projects are slated for this year, backed by an allocation exceeding 1.9 billion afghanis, roughly $29 million. Such figures suggest a well-funded, sustained effort. One significant undertaking is the 1.5 billion afghani ($23 million) flyover and underpass project at the heavily congested Baraki intersection.
Obaidullah Elham, the project manager and engineer, oversees a workforce of 500 skilled and unskilled laborers. They work around the clock, seven days a week, to bring the Turkish-designed infrastructure to fruition. The 470-meter underpass, which began construction in July of last year, is currently 80% complete.
Work on the flyover commenced earlier this year. This will be only the second flyover in Kabul. These projects create much-needed employment opportunities in a nation grappling with widespread poverty.
Follow the supply chain. The sheer volume of construction requires vast quantities of raw materials. Cement, steel rebar, aggregate, and specialized heavy machinery are all essential inputs.
While some aggregate might be locally sourced, steel and cement often arrive from neighboring countries. For instance, much of Afghanistan's steel typically originates from Iran or China, transported via overland routes. Cement often crosses borders from Pakistan.
The demand generated by these projects impacts regional trade flows, creating opportunities for suppliers in a challenging economic climate. Transport logistics within Afghanistan remain complex. Improved roads will ease these movements.
Improved road networks promise to streamline the flow of goods within Kabul and beyond. Reduced transit times directly translate to lower transportation costs for businesses, a factor that can influence consumer prices for everyday commodities. The numbers on the shipping manifest tell the real story of economic efficiency.
Easier movement of agricultural products from rural areas to urban markets could stabilize food prices. Faster delivery of manufactured goods could boost local commerce. For small businesses, less time stuck in traffic means more deliveries per day.
This could enhance their profitability. Syed Murtaza Sadar, despite his personal loss, acknowledged the broader benefit: the existing single-lane road was so choked with vehicles that travel often consumed an hour for short distances. This widespread congestion stifled economic activity.
Beyond economic efficiency, the infrastructure drive also creates substantial local employment. The 500 workers at the Baraki intersection project represent a direct injection of income into hundreds of households. These jobs, ranging from skilled engineering roles to unskilled labor, provide critical financial stability in a country where unemployment remains a persistent challenge.
The wages earned contribute to local spending, generating a multiplier effect within the city's economy. This local investment is a significant component of the overall redevelopment strategy. However, the modernization comes at a social cost.
In Kabul’s Qala-e-Khater neighborhood, a section of a graveyard, which has served residents for approximately 200 years, is also making way for a new road. Graves now lie empty, rectangular holes marking where bodies have been exhumed. The remains have been carefully moved to another part of the cemetery.
Abdul Wadood Alokozay's grandfather was among those whose remains were relocated. His extended family lost three properties: a girls’ madrassa and two family homes, all razed to the ground. "At first our family all sad for this, that we lost our house," the 21-year-old said, recalling the emotional impact. The family received over $13,000 for the buildings and awaits additional compensation for the land.
They have since constructed a new, three-story home on another plot they owned, overlooking the former site. These ambitious infrastructure plans are not entirely new. Many of the designs were initially drafted years ago under Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government.
However, most of these projects stalled, mired in bureaucratic delays, corruption, and the persistent security risks posed by the Taliban insurgency. Shah Faisal Alokozay, a 30-year-old community representative and Abdul Wadood's cousin, emphasized the long-standing importance of this particular road. "It’s a very important road, connecting east and north Kabul," he explained. The current administration, having seized power in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops, has demonstrated a capacity to execute these long-dormant plans, leveraging a more centralized authority to overcome previous obstacles.
Trade policy is foreign policy by other means. While these projects are locally funded and focused on internal urban improvement, their long-term implications extend to Afghanistan's regional connectivity. Enhanced road networks within Kabul could eventually feed into broader national and regional transit corridors.
Improved transport infrastructure could facilitate trade with Central Asian nations to the north and Pakistan to the south, potentially integrating Afghanistan more effectively into regional economic blocs. This increased connectivity could attract foreign investment, albeit cautiously, in sectors like logistics and manufacturing. The efficient movement of goods is a fundamental driver of economic growth.
It enables a nation to participate more fully in global supply chains. Why It Matters: This aggressive infrastructure drive in Kabul represents a dual narrative of progress and displacement. For the city's residents, reduced traffic congestion promises a better quality of life and potentially lower costs for goods, directly impacting daily consumer experience.
For the current administration, the successful execution of these large-scale projects demonstrates a tangible ability to govern and deliver public services, a crucial element in establishing domestic legitimacy and demonstrating operational capacity to the international community. The initiative also provides a significant economic stimulus through job creation and local spending, even as it forces thousands to rebuild their lives. Key Takeaways: - Kabul municipality has expropriated 11,278 properties since 2021 to expand and modernize the city's road network. - Projects are fully funded by municipal revenue, totaling over 28 billion afghanis ($434 million) raised in four and a half years. - Major infrastructure, like the 1.5 billion afghani Baraki intersection flyover/underpass, creates hundreds of local jobs. - While improving urban efficiency and trade, the projects cause significant displacement, including homes, businesses, and even historical graveyards.
The coming months will see the continuation of these 233 planned projects, intensifying the pace of urban change. Residents whose properties are slated for expropriation will face similar dilemmas to Syed Murtaza Sadar and Abdul Wadood Alokozay, balancing personal loss against the promise of a more connected city. Observers will watch how effectively the municipality manages compensation claims and resettlement, as well as the long-term impact on Kabul's economy and its integration into regional trade networks.
The efficiency of these new roads will ultimately be measured not just by traffic flow, but by the tangible improvements they bring to the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Afghans.
Key Takeaways
— - Kabul municipality has expropriated 11,278 properties since 2021 to expand and modernize the city's road network.
— - Projects are fully funded by municipal revenue, totaling over 28 billion afghanis ($434 million) raised in four and a half years.
— - Major infrastructure, like the 1.5 billion afghani Baraki intersection flyover/underpass, creates hundreds of local jobs.
— - While improving urban efficiency and trade, the projects cause significant displacement, including homes, businesses, and even historical graveyards.
Source: AP News