A CORRESPONDENT
BISWANATH CHARIALI: The work in the four-laning of the National Highway 15 has started after some time. The tentative completion date has been fixed at December 31, 2021.
The existing stretch (Ch-208.00 km on NH-15 to Ch.265.50 km on NH 15) from the end of Biswanath Chariali by-pass to Gohpur is a component of the SARDP-NE Project connecting Itanagar, the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, had decided to widen the highway up to Itanagar in the State of Assam on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode. The contract of the road was awarded to TK Engineering Consortium Private Limited. The total length from Biswanath Chariali to Gohpur is 57.5 km of four lane (208 km to 265 km). In this portion of the stretch, the number of minor bridges is 26 and out of them, 20 have been completed. The number of major bridges is four while all the sub structures of these bridges have been completed. There are 78 culverts and 50 have been completed. This portion also covers four Railway over Bridge (ROB) and works in all the ROB are in progress.
The National Highway sources estimate the overall progress of work at 47 per cent. On the other hand, four laning of Jamugurihat to end of Biswanath Chariali By-Pass from 182 km to 208 km has also been done on a war-footing. In this part, the anticipated time of completion from Jamugurihat to Biswanath Chariali is end of April, 2021 while the anticipated time of completion of the Biswanath Chariali By-pass is end of December, 2021. Local people have urged to expedite the work in the bypass near Biswanath Chariali town connecting Sakomatha and Burhigang as it has caused heavy traffic jam in the town, the district head quarter of Biswanath district. A good number of heavy vehicles, including long-distance trucks and buses, ply along the highway everyday that goes through the town leading to much problem for the common people.
The contractor firm has engaged thousands of people at various levels in the whole project with heavy machinery such as black hoe loaders, excavators and dumpers. However, the delay in the widening and construction was attributed to several causes by the contractor firm. It includes CAB and CAA movements in the State, the COVID-19 pandemic and of late, payment of compensation on the State Government's part.