Shillong, Dec 13: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state to file a status report on the Jowai bypass.

Hearing a PIL on Tuesday, the Division Bench said, “…the State should file a status report to indicate the state of roads and the extent of repair work undertaken by PWD (Roads) to repair and maintain the same. List on February 3, 2023.”

The Jowai bypass is in a terrible state. Vehicles coming from the Shillong side and going to Khliehriat and beyond, particularly goods vehicles, use the bypass. Similarly, Shillong or Guwahati-bound vehicles coming from the Silchar side and not needing to go to Jowai use the bypass. Such bypass is in a deplorable condition and requires immediate repair.

The Counsel for National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) submitted that it is not immediately clear that whether the responsibility for repairing the bypass is of the NHAI or of the State PWD (Roads).

The bench however emphasized that the bypass requires immediate repair work for it to be usable and said, “Whether it is the NHAI or the State PWD (Roads), the appropriate organisation should take immediate steps in such regard such that the repair work is completed by the middle of January, 2023.”

It also directed that the petitioner will forward a copy of this order to the State PWD (Roads) for immediate appropriate action, in the event it is the PWD (Roads) which is responsible for the relevant stretch of road.

Earlier, the NHAI informed the court that substantial repair work on NH 6 has been completed, but at some places the repair work along with the usual maintenance are continuing.

According to the NHAI, the entire stretch of 102.255 km from Jowai to Ratacherra would be repaired and restored by January 10, 2023 at the latest.

The next hearing on the matter will be held on February 3.