HC directs PWD to complete road repair work before rains arrive

SHILLONG, Feb 3: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the PWD (Roads) to ensure that all maintenance and repair work, whether in conjunction with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or otherwise across the state highways, is completed before the onset of rains.
During the hearing of a PIL on Friday, the NHAI made a clean breast of things and submitted that despite its previous assurance that the repair work on the Jowai to Ratacherra highway would be completed by January, 2023, one more month is necessary to complete the work.
Reports were filed by the State Public Works Department (Roads) and the Project Director of NHAI. Photographs and satellite images were attached to the reports.
According to the NHAI, despite the regular repair and maintenance works being carried out, potholes surfaced in certain stretches of the Jowai to Ratacherra highway. It said the same is being attended to.
“It may be observed that if quality repair and maintenance work is carried out, it is not expected that many potholes would surface within a short time thereafter, though there could be one or two cases of accidents and potholes being opened up as a result. The PWD (Roads) should also ensure that all maintenance and repair work, whether in conjunction with the NHAI or otherwise, across the State highways is completed before the rains arrive,” a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said.
The petitioner, activist Kynjaimon Amse, pointed out that the status report filed by the PWD (Roads) revealed that a 7.997 km stretch of the Jowai bypass between Mukhla (Thadlaskein) and Mihmyntdu has been allotted to a private contractor and the initial deadline set was December 15, 2023 with the hope that the work would have commenced by December 15, 2022.
However, the report indicated that there has been a delay in the commencement of the work due to deviations and queries raised by the contractor.
“For a start, it cannot be appreciated as to how the repair of an 8 km stretch would require 12 months to complete. It is, however, possible that the entire stretch may be constructed anew and 12 months may be required for such purpose; but the same is not clear from the report,” the court said in its order.
It directed the PWD (Roads) to endeavour to make the road sufficiently motorable since this is a crucial stretch used by goods vehicles to go to Silchar and Agartala via Meghalaya.