KHUJAND, December 11, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- This year, national budget has provided 300,000 somoni for maintenance of the Ayni section (from the Anzob Pass to Shahriston Pass) of the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand, which is 30 percent or 80,000 somoni more than last year, Sadriqul Sherbutayev, the head of the Ayni road maintenance department, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, this has allowed to stock more than 1,000 cubic meters of sand for the winter maintenance of the road. 

“Besides, we have purchased 12 cubic meters of firewood and 5 tons of coals for premises of road builders as well as two tons of diesel fuel for three bulldozers and dump truck,” Sherbutayev said, noting that the allocated funds are enough to maintain the road till the end of this year.

He added that financing for the next year would be increased.