By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 10: Considering the importance of the Agia-Medhipara-Phulbari-Tura (AMPT) Road, which often requires repairs, the High Court of Meghalaya has ordered this arterial road’s “complete overhauling”.
“The State PWD (Roads) would do well to look into the matter and instead of spending over and over again for patch work or repair work, undertake a complete overhauling of the road,” the court said in an order after hearing a PIL.
The petitioner complained that despite a previous order to undertake immediate repair work for the 9 km stretch between KM 33 and KM 41, nothing concrete was done and potholes developed which seriously affected the movement of vehicular traffic.
Although it was noticed that levelling had been completed from 67 km to 100 km stretch of the AMPT Road, the petitioner alleged that massive water-logging completely eroded the blacktop and made it difficult for trucks and almost impossible for smaller vehicles to navigate such stretches.
The court said the AMPT Road is an arterial road of great importance already and with the bridge across the Brahmaputra from Dhubri to Phulbari scheduled to be completed in the next three or four years, Phulbari will develop as a major trading hub and roads to and from Phulbari will have to endure much greater traffic than can be imagined at present.
“For such purpose, the AMPT Road has to be in top condition without excuses such as rain being cited to explain away its pitiable condition. This matter has lingered for a considerable period and though some progress was made on some stretches, it does not appear that the work undertaken has any lasting value. The State PWD (Roads) would do well to look into the matter and instead of spending over and over again for patch work or repair work, undertake a complete overhauling of the road, whether or not in conjunction with the National Highways Authority of India so that the road can cater to the increased pressure upon the Dhubri to Phulbari bridge over the Brahmaputra being completed,” the court ordered.
According to the court, the State PWD (Roads) should consult with NHAI or its arm, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, and, possibly, seek funds from the North Eastern Council for strengthening, widening and year-round maintenance of the AMPT Road as a part of the extension of the Dhubri to Phulbari flyover.
“This does not imply that the outstanding work or the patch work that is immediately required should be ignored,” the court said.
It added that it is a matter of concern that despite it being well known that Meghalaya is one of the wettest places in the world, the same excuse of rain is given by the state or other authorities to justify the poor conditions of some of the roads.
The court said there are several other roads in the state which can endure the monsoon and remain unaffected by the heavy rains.
Since the AMPT Road is one of the key roads linking the western part of the state to the rest of the state and other parts of the country, it requires special attention and it is hoped that the State PWD (Roads) will deal with the matter with the requisite seriousness, the court said.
It directed the government to file a report on the measures taken, including how the road should be four or five years from now, when the matter appears six weeks later.