Tura, Aug 21: In a glaring example of the abysmal quality of road construction in Garo Hills, a portion of the National Highway 217 running through West Garo Hills district has undergone such drastic changes that it is hard to tell that it was restored and renovated just 8 months back.
In a span of only 8 months, the newly repaired road from Rongram Bazar to Jengjal junction in West Garo Hills, part of NH 217, has developed more than 60 potholes, raising significant concerns.
The Hub News team embarked on a 14.8 km journey from Rongram Bazar to the Jengjal junction, which serves as a crucial link connecting Tura to Williamnagar and Guwahati. Throughout the route, multiple sections were observed in a deplorable state, far from meeting the standards of a National Highway.
The restoration work on the stretch of the road had begun in 2022 and completed by end of the same year. The restoration cum renovation work by carried out by a construction firm known as “MIDAS”.
A mere 8 months after the completion, and amidst the ongoing rainy season, the road has become difficult to navigate with telltale signs of its deterioration. The Jengjal to Rongram Bazar segment, spanning a mere 14.8 km, now takes over 30 minutes to traverse due to the emergence of potholes that remain unaddressed, and look like a botch on the scenic beauty of the surroundings.
The company is subject to a Defect Liability Period (DLP) during which they are responsible for maintaining the road for 5 years. However, the current state of the road poses a potential hazard, capable of triggering accidents in the near future.
Interestingly, certain sections have recently undergone repairs, prompted by VIP movements. Additionally, some of the potholes have been temporarily patched with interlocking bricks, a measure labelled as a “temporary repair.”
The NH 217, formerly known as NH-51, highway serves as a crucial link connecting Paikan in Assam’s Goalpara District to Tura in the West Garo Hills District, connecting Paikan, Tura, Dalu, Baghmara, Rongjeng, Damra and Dudhnoi. Not only is it vital for supply chains, but it also plays a key role in establishing connectivity with various other parts of the nation.
The looming question pertains to the apparent negligence of the responsible contractor. Despite the Defect Liability Period in place, the condition of the road remains neglected and unattended.
This is the not the only road in West Garo Hills, and in general Garo Hills, that is seeing poor construction quality. But being a National Highway, it was hoped that the quality of this crucial road would have been better in otherwise a long list of roads with questionable quality.
The question that looms large now is – will the relevant authorities address this issue before it leads to unfortunate consequences? And will it ever take any decisive action as reminder to others against such quality of work?
Also read: BSF Inter-Frontier Judo Cluster Competition 2023 commences at NEHU in Shillong
WATCH:
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub
