PM’s intervention sought in repair of national highways

SHILLONG: An A’chik organisation has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in repairing two national highways in the state.
In a letter to Modi, the A’chik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum (AIJIF) said the NH-62 and NH-51 are important road connections but the dilapidated condition has made it “a nightmare” for drivers.
The total length of NH-62 is 195 km of which 190 km is in Meghalaya and the total length of NH-51 is 149 km and starts from Paikan in Assam and ends at Dalu in Meghalaya. The highway is 149 km long of which 127 km is in Meghalaya.
“This national highway is very significant as it connects Meghalaya to Bangladesh and is a prime means of trade and business for people of Meghalaya but due to the poor condition of this road the trade and commerce have been impacted negatively in a severe manner,” the letter said.
“The most infamous of roads in the Garo Hills region, the NH 62 gets its disrepute from the 23 wooden bridges which themselves are in deplorable condition and stretches all the way from Jadigittim to the Karongre in South Garo Hills. With countless potholes, unnavigable stretches and the poor road condition; this national highway is any travellers’ nightmare,” it added.
The wooden bridges are being taken care of by Coal Exporters Association in the absence of maintenance by the concerned authorities, AIJIF said and questioned the role of PWD (Roads) in maintaining the road.
“The deplorable road condition of NH-62 and NH-51 (now new NH-217) in South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills has been an eyesore for decades. Time and again different organisations have been raising this issue but no action till date has been taken towards the betterment of this road,” AIJIF said in its letter.
AIJIF had earlier brought this matter before Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.