RESUBELPARA, Feb 17: Seeking government intervention in the ‘extremely slow’ progress of the Damra-Bajengdoba road project, TMC MLA from Mendipathar, Marthon Sangma on Thursday slammed the contractors, Badri Rai and Company (BRC) requesting strict actions against them from the state government.
Sangma, in his series of allegations against the company has pointed out that repair of the crucial road has been taking place at a snail’s pace and at such a rate, BRC will never complete the project by the target date, which has already been extended once in the past.
Pointing out that the groundwork for only a short stretch of the road between Bajengdoba and Resubelpara has been completed so far, Sangma alleged that the company has been making use of little manpower and equipments as opposed to what they had promised to the people.
“The company has been lying to us. They told us that about 60-70 people were engaged on the road making. They are also employing just 3-4 JCBs and a few excavators. There are hardly 15-20 people involved,” Sangma reported.
Drawing attention to the travails the commuters have to undergo on a daily basis, Sangma also added that most people prefer to add extra 20 km to travel through Krishnai in Assam to reach Mendipathar or Resubelpara, as the road is smoother and not bone-shattering like this one.
It may be noted that the 38-km road begins in Damra in Goalpara, Assam and connects most of the important places in North Garo Hills, including Damas, Mendipathar, Resubelpara before meeting up with the National Highway 51 at Berubari under Bajengdoba.
The road is essential to the people of the district as it is the only connection to the district headquarter of NGH.
Highlighting the matters above, the MLA has now appealed to the government to come down hard on the BRC so that work on the dilapidated road can be completed in time.