STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Assam Assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary on Friday expressed concern at the slow pace of four-laning work on NH 37 in Upper Assam.
Daimary has called a meeting of the MLAs of Upper Assam, along with officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and senior officials of the state government to review the progress of the work on NH 37.
It should be mentioned here that the NHIDCL has been entrusted with the responsibility of the work on converting the NH 37 to a four-lane one. The work was started in 2015-16 but is yet to be completed, causing inconvenience to the people.
Talking to The Sentinel, Daimary said, “The ongoing four-laning work in Upper Assam is causing problems for the people in these areas. The work started in 2015-16 but has not been completed as yet. NHIDCL is responsible for the work, which was awarded to contractors through a tender process. However, it has been seen practically that the work is progressing at a very slow rate. The MLAs of the areas through which the National Highway passes had expressed concern on the floor of the Assembly several times.”
He further went on to say, “A meeting with the NHIDCL officials has been scheduled on November 6. In this meeting, the MLAs of these areas will be present and the reason for the delay will be examined in detail. We will also discuss the measures to be adopted for speeding up the work. We will find a solution to the problem and a roadmap will be prepared to expedite the work.”
Recently, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, visited the state on October 30 and 31, during which he reviewed the work on the National Highway. He admitted to the tardiness of the work being carried out on NH 37 in Upper Assam and commiserated with the people who are suffering as a result of the slow pace of work.
It should be mentioned here that the stretch of the NH 37 running from Jorhat to Bogibeel junction near Lepetkatta is the cause of the concern to the authorities concerned. NHDCL has divided the work into four packages and the work has being done on this stretch through contractors assigned for the packages.
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