Jowai, Oct 1: The Jaiñtia Students’ Union (JSU) led by the General Secretary of JSU Shillong Circle, Request Pakma, and the President of JSU War Jaiñtia Circle, Eddy Kery Pohtam, have put forward the demand for immediate repair of National Highway 44 & NH-44 (Extension), i.e. Jowai-Shillong road and Amlarem-Dawki Road, to the Executive Engineer of Jowai Central Division. As the said stretch of the National Highway is in terrible shape and a cause of inconvenience for the people of Jaiñtia Hills who need to commute through the route daily, the JSU hsd also questioned the role of PWD Jowai Central Division since no signs of repairing work done is visible till date.Furthermore,  the JSU has questioned all the 7 MLAs of Jaiñtia Hills, who frequently use this road for traveling to Shillong, as to what they have done towards this major hardship faced by the people due to the pathetic condition of the road.Replying to the queries, according to the Union, the Executive Engineer has informed that the NHIDCL will be tendering soon for the repair work of the Jowai-Shillong NH-44 road.

However, there are no documents as evidence that the repair work or tendering for the same will be taken up by NHIDCL.

The Executive Engineer clarified that the NHIDCL had in the past conducted a survey of the NH-44 without the knowledge of the PWD and that the Central Government does not grant funds for major repairing of the road except for only minor repairs.