GUWAHATI, July 24: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has pleaded to Union minister of road, transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari to speed up the completion works of the National Highway-37 project from Jakhalanbandha to Dibrugarh, the work of which has been pending for more than a decade.

In a letter to Gadkari, Gogoi underlined that the highway construction has been held up for a decade and the delay in the construction work is leading to frequent mishaps and traffic jams.

“Despite having raised this issue previously through a letter in July 2023, highlighting it during the last winter session of the 17th Lok Sabha under “Matter Under rule 377,” and another letter on 12th January 2024, there has been no significant improvement,” Gogoi said in the letter.

Gogoi highlighted the current condition of NH-37 has reached a critical point causing significant inconvenience to residents and commuters alike. “The rise in traffic volume, attributed to commercial activities, tourism and regular transportation, has far outpaced the capacity of the road infrastructure, resulting in extensive wear and tear,” he said.

The Congress MP said most parts of Nagaon to Jakhalabandha section of this road have undergone repairs multiple times due to defective construction. Cracks and uneven surfaces were visible within a year of construction. Despite bringing to the notice of the Chief Minister and a subsequent meeting called by the Speaker with NHAI officials and respected MLAs, no significant results have been achieved.

“Similar issues are present in the Numaligarh-Jorhat section, where the riding quality is not up to standard due to a lack of proper supervision during construction,” he said.
The stretch from Jorhat to Jhanji onward to Dibrugarh remains incomplete causing numerous fatal injuries and loss of life due to road accidents.

“Additionally it is pertinent to mention that the Prime Minister visited Teok (Jorhat)a few months back and may have also witnessed the poor road conditions in Teok. Despite that high-profile visit, the condition of NH-37 remains unchanged underscoring the urgent need for immediate remedial action,” Gogoi said.

“I must say that the above portions were awarded to various contractors who lacked financial soundness and capability resulting in prolonged delays spanning over a decade,” he also said.

Considering that Assam and Northeast experience heavy rainfall, the Congress MP suggested that concrete roads be constructed instead of bituminous roads to ensure durability and longevity.

Gogoi’s letter came a day after Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget in the Parliament highlighting the Union government’s initiative for improvement of connectivity within the Northeast by programs such as SARDP-NE, Bharatmala-I, etc. and with the rest of India through East-West Corridor programme.

According to the official figure, till May 2024, a total of 78 km of National Highway road have been constructed in northeastern states.

Till June 2024 a total expenditure of Rs 2,859 crore has been made on NH projects in the northeastern region.

Also Read: Manipur women hit the streets seeking justice for Hmar youths killed in Assam encounter

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