Nagaon-Dibrugarh NH expansion: Union Secretary, NHIDCL MD inspect project site

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: At last, Union Secretary for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Giridhar Aramane and NHIDCL (National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd) MD Chanchal Kumar conducted a spot verification of the work of the four-lane NH-37 stretch from Numuligarh-Dibrugarh on Thursday. But the district administrations concerned did not allow them to interact with the public and organizations.

According to sources, raising a question on the delay of the stretch of the national highway in the Rajya Sabha and a PIL filed in the Gauhati High Court on the road condition prompted the duo to rush to the project site.

According to sources, the duo had talks with the local NHIDCL officials and asked them what delayed the project. The NHIDCL regional office assured Aramane and Kumar that they would sort out the problems. The duo also asked the NHIDCL to ask the construction companies to speed up their work.

On March 3, 2022, Bhaskar Papukon, a resident of Dibrugarh, filed a PIL in the Gauhati Court on the traffic bottlenecks that people have to face due to the delay in the NH-37 project. The NHIDCL did inform the petitioner that a high-level team would visit the project site for on-the-spot verification of the works.

Sources in the State Government said that it had held meetings at the Chief Secretary and MLA levels on the project. The State Assembly also discussed the delay of the project. However, the NHIDCL and the construction companies are the least bothered ones. "With the monsoon nearing, we doubt if the construction companies can do the project works speedily. If they can improve the condition of the service roads, the public will get a respite. Will they?" A source in the State Government questioned.

The around 365-km Nagaon Bypass-Dibrugarh NH expansion project had got clearance from the Centre way back in 2012. A decade has elapsed, but the completion of the project remains far-fetched.

Also Read: NHIDCL Invites Tender for the Annual Maintenance Work on NHh-10 from km 66 Singtam Shantinagar to km 80 Indian Oil Fuel Station

Also Watch: A Man from Tamil Nadu Bought his Dream Bike with Rs. 1 Coins he saved over 3 Years.