TURA, Aug 20: Commuters on Tura-Dalu under-construction NH-51 on Friday were left stranded temporarily before continuing with their journey after the locals intercepted the vehicles in a bid to demonstrate their resentment over the pitiable condition of the road.
The construction of the 44-km stretch of highway from Tura to Dalu, which commenced in 2018, is yet to be completed. Monsoon seasons, on the other hand, further aggravate the situation by causing damage to the unpaved road.
Friday’s situation had escalated after Gambegre MLA Saleng Sangma, who was present at the site, did not get a satisfactory reply to his queries pertaining to the unfinished construction work from those overseeing the construction.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh, who rushed to the scene after being informed about the situation by the MLA, informed that traffic was witnessed for about 15-20 minutes before the commotion was sorted out.
“There were some issues raised by the MLA and he was unable to get a satisfactory reply from the engineer he questioned at the site. It was just a minor thing and the misunderstanding soon cleared up and the traffic resumed,” the DC said.
According to Singh, the issues being over the under-construction stretch mostly result out of monsoon spells.
Informing that such monsoon rains render the unpaved road muddy and difficult for vehicles to manoeuvre, the DC clarified that the NHIDCL was not at fault and was trying to complete the construction as per schedule.
“We have set up a foolproof mechanism to ensure that work continues on the road. We have also created WhatsApp groups so that any problem or information can be communicated to the concerned officials in charge of the different works,” he said.
It may be mentioned that while the construction of the road project began in 2018, due to various hurdles including land acquisition issues, major works on the project could begin in full swing only by the end of 2019.
Notwithstanding the hurdles, the company in charge of the construction had earlier expressed hope of completing the construction work by March 2022.
