S HILLONG, Feb 18: The Meghalaya High Court on Friday directed regular maintenance and upkeep of the various stretches of the Borkhat-Sonapur road along the Indo-Bangladesh border in East Jaintia Hills District.

“…the regular maintenance and upkeep of the various stretches of the road should be undertaken on an immediate basis, whether or not any contractor has been engaged pursuant to the notice inviting tender issued on February 9, 2022,” the division bench said in its order passed while hearing on a PIL filed by one Kynjaimon Amse.

It said that there has to be a regular process for a key road to be maintained in good condition and the fact that no contractor may have been engaged for the purpose reflects poorly on the administrative authority responsible for the maintenance.

“Hill roads are particularly critical and it is necessary that they are maintained regularly or at least a mechanism is put in place for minor damages due to the regular wear and tear to be attended to at the earliest,” the bench stated.

As per the latest affidavit filed by the State, a notice inviting tender for upgradation and improvement of the Borkhat-Sonapur road has already been issued and the last date for receiving offers is March 28.

The bench said that the matter will appear in the second week of April, to ascertain the time within which the work would be completed in terms of the contract that has been awarded in favour of the successful bidder.

Earlier this month, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had informed that the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned Rs 126 crore for the construction of the Borghat-Sonapur road.