CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Flags Deplorable Condition of NHs, Directs Agencies to Take Corrective Measures

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/MANGALDAI: Taking cognizance of the deplorable condition of the National Highways (NH) 15, 37 and 39, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and other agencies concerned to take corrective measures.

The Chief Minister took up the issue of the dilapidated condition of NH-15, NH-37 and NH-39 with the PWD at a meeting held on Friday. He said that steps must be taken for improving the condition of these national highways so that people do not face any inconvenience.

Regarding the NH-15 from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali, the Chief Minister said that a 32-km stretch of this highway is almost unmotorable. This stretch is riddled with potholes at various places. Sarma said that this 32-km stretch must be “rectified by the contractor at own cost”.

Regarding the NH-37, especially the 41-km stretch from Kaliabor to Bagori, the Chief Minister instructed that special focus must be laid on the stretch from Kanchenjuri to Kuthori, in addition to the ongoing maintenance work from Kanchenjuri to Bagori. Sarma further said that corrective measures must also be taken along the stretch of NH-37 from Bagori to Numaligarh, with special focus on the stretch from Bagori to Kohora and Bor Chapori to Numaligarh.

Regarding the NH-39 from Numaligarh to Rongajan, Sarma instructed that steps must be taken to improve riding quality, road safety measures and building covered drains.

According to sources, maintenance of these national highways is not taken up on time due to which many stretches on these highways have become unmotorable. Many accidents have also been reported on these stretches. The condition of these national highways becomes more pathetic during the monsoon season. Due to the poor condition of the national highways, it takes almost 2 hours to cover the 31-km stretch from Baihata Chariali to Mangaldai. After getting many complaints, Chief Minister Sarma reviewed the condition of these national highways and directed the authorities concerned to take necessary corrective measures.

Our Mangaldai correspondent adds: The dilapidated condition of the nearly 60-km long stretch of the NH-15 in the Darrang district has not only caused inconvenience for commuters but also raised questions over role of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highway wing of PWD, Assam.

This stretch of the NH has many potholes. A major portion of the road was damaged by the waves of floods last year and it required repairing before the onslaught of the next monsoon. However, barring routine minor repair works, particularly before the visits of VIPs to the district, no significant action by the NH authorities has been seen. This has led to strong resentment among people.

The poor road condition and its narrow width are major factors for the alarmingly increasing number of road mishaps in recent times. The matter of timely repairing of the NH had figured in the recent meeting of the District Road Safety Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Darrang. Expressing strong resentment over the poor road condition, secretary of Pothoru Samannway Gosthi, Mostak Hussain of Pathorighat demanded early improvement of the road stretch and also its widening from two lane to four lane, as announced by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, during the foundation-laying programme of the NH Mangaldai bypass on June 5.

Meanwhile, on being contacted over the phone, sources in the PWD (NH), Rangia Division informed that the ministry has already sanctioned funds for repairing the major damaged portions and work will begin once the ongoing tender process is completed. Resurfacing will be done on an 11-km stretch, including 2 km near Saktola, 1 km each near Punia and Lengeripara, Mangaldai, 6 km in Kharupetia town and 1 km near Sikanmati in Dalgaon. In addition, resurfacing of a 4-km stretch from Noa River bridge, Bongalagarh to the District Transport Office is already in progress under the State Owned Priority Development (SOPD) scheme, sources added.

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