Five National Highways declared in 2014 in the doldrums!

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways declared five highways of Assam as national highways through a Gazette notification on March 4, 2014. The construction of only one of the five national highways began but stalled due to the contractor's negligence. The other four highways are in the doldrums as the state PWD (Road) has not yet handed them over to the PWD (NH).

The Sentinel approached the Guwahati Regional Office of Road Transport and Highways under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and State PWD (NH) to delve deep into the matter. It came to light that the State PWD (Road) has handed over only NH-329 to PWD (NH), but not the other four national highways –NH-117A, NH-715A, NH 127E and NH 427 – as yet.

The state PWD (NH) started the construction of 52-km NH-329 under SARDP-NE (Special Accelerated Road Development Programme-North East). The work, however, came to a grinding halt due to the negligence of the contractor, the PWD-NH official said. NH-329 starts from its junction with NH-29 near Manja (east end), connecting Diphu and terminating at its junction with new NH-27 near Lumding (west end). According to the senior official of PWD (NH), the process is going on to resume the stalled construction of this national highway. "However, we have started preliminary works like engaging agencies to prepare the DPRs (Detailed Project Report) of NH-117A, NH-715A and 127E. We are doing this to send the DPRs to the MoRTH as soon as PWD (Road) hands over the national highways to us," the PWD (NH) official said.

According to the official, 47-km NH-117A starts from its junction with NH-17 near Bilasipara (south end), connecting Kokrajhar and terminating at its junction with new NH-27 near Garubhasa (north end).

The 125-km NH-715 starts from its junction with NH-27 near Nakhola (south end), connecting Jagiroad, Morigaon, Kaupati, Rowta, Udalguri, Khoirabari and terminating at the Indo-Bhutan border (north end). This national highway includes a bridge over the Brahmaputra.

The 65-km NH-127E starts from its junction with NH-27 near Barama (south end), connecting Baksa and Subankhata, terminating at the Indo-Bhutan border (north end).

The 75-km NH-427 starts from its junction with NH-27 near Howli (west end) to Amingaon (east end) by-passing Barpeta, Dopulashal, Rampur, Mukalmua, Hajo, Singimari and Dodora. The Guwahati Regional Office of Road Transport and Highways under MoRTH has already floated a tender for PMC (Project Management Consultancy) for consultancy, including the preparations of DPRs, besides supervising the construction works.

The PWD (NH) official said, "The MoRTH has made PMC mandatory for any national highway from this year."

Also Read:   NHIDCL asked to expedite four-laning works of NH-37

Also Watch: