B*N*S*N3

Gurkhas help Royal Engineers continue Babaji regeneration

A Military Operations news article

6 Jul 10

British Engineers with the support of the Gurkhas are helping with the regeneration of Babaji by continuing to upgrade a major road through the district.

Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, provide security for the engineers working on Route Trident
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Forsyth RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Route Trident links the Helmand capital of Lashkar Gah to the economic hub of Gereshk. Its upgrade, which should help improve the lives of the local people, began when the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards had responsibility for the Nahr-e Saraj (South) area.

B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, took over responsibility for the area at the end of April 2010 and, with it, the baton to provide protection for the Royal Engineers as the road is driven south, bringing freedom of movement and trade to the local population of the village of Walizi.

It was while providing protection for the building of the road that a soldier attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles was sadly killed yesterday.

4 Armoured Engineer Squadron is upgrading the old Babaji road which has seen the Sappers clear improvised explosive devices, build culverts to allow irrigation to continue, and even alter the planned route to meet requests from the local communities through which the road passes.

The dilapidated state of the old road means the journey for traffic currently takes hours, so the aim is to have a firm and safe tarmac surface which will drastically reduce journey times.

Work is underway to improve Route Trident which will allow greater freedom of movement for the local Afghan population
[Picture: Sergeant Ian Forsyth RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The road is being solidly constructed using carpet-like membranes, tough plastic neo cells and high quality aggregates and stone, which should hold together well despite heavy vehicles and harsh weather conditions.

Local people themselves are being employed to carry out some of the work which brings welcome cash into the area's economy...

More here.