Roadblocks hamper Barak Valley projects

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Feb 12: At a time when a number of projects have sanctioned in State with a purpose to upgrade the tiol highways, the four-laning project of tiol Highway-54 between Udharbond to Harangajao and between Harangajao to Maibong in Barak Valley is yet to pick up pace. This delay in various sections of the proposed four-laning of the NH has led to communication problems among the travellers on this strategically located roadway in Assam.  The section of the project between Udharbond to Harangajao and between Harangajao to Maibong has been entrusted to tiol Highway Authority of India (NHAI) while the section between Balachera to Harangajao has been given to the tiol Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation of India Limited (NHIDCL).  

Officials of the NHAI and NHIDCL talking separately to The Sentinel revealed that only 25.76 km between Udarbond to Balacherra under Section NH-54 has been completed till the filing of the report. They further stated 31 km  of the project from the Balacherra to Harangjao section of the highway has been entrusted to NHIDCL on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction ) mode of execution and the appointed date declared was on December 26, 2017. The likely date of its completion is June 2020. mely, EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and is a prominent form of contracting agreement in the construction industry. The engineering and construction contractor carries out the detailed engineering design of the project, procures all the equipment and materials necessary, and then constructs to deliver a functioning facility or asset to their clients. Companies that deliver EPC Projects are commonly referred to as EPC Contractors.

On the other hand, just four kilometer has been completed of the 25.19 km section from Harangjao to Jatinga. There have been lots of complaints and “the contract was termited due to slow progress by the contractor. The already completed four-lane has also been damaged due to landslides. Maintence of the existing NH has been taken up by NHAI. Preparation of ‘Detailed Project Report’ (DPR) for split four-lane construction has been awarded to M/s RITES Ltd. Owing to the delay the likely completion date is still to be ascertained. NHAI have engaged the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) for advising remedial measures. Further, it has been decided to adopt split four-lane construction for the affected section.

The officials further added that 20.84 km of the 23.38 km section from Jatinga to rimbanglo has been completed. The remaining portion of the project is expected to be completed by December 2018. It is to be mentioned that certain sections of this four-lane project has also been affected by landslides. The officials also stated that 15.39 km of the total 15.57 section from rimbanglo to Maibong has been completed. Stating that the project has been substantially completed, the officials added that 180 metre of the stretch has been affected by landslides.

Dwelling on the causes for the delay in completion, the officials said: “The projects have been delayed due to delay in land acquisition and shifting of utilities by the departments concerned of the State Government, law-and-order problems and particularly due to landslides, hill movements, slip failures and sinking.”

The officials, however, pointed out: “Efforts have been made by NHAI for the completion of the projects through regular monitoring and at the State-level co-ordition meetings to resolve the issues with the various Departments.