Contractor gets deadline till year-end to complete Tura-Dalu road project

TURA, Sep 1: National highway projects are generally taken very seriously, with strict deadlines, or consequences quickly follow. However, one road under the NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) has become an exception to this rule, with more than six years passing since the inception of the project, yet the road remains far from complete — or as some might say, construction has come to an absolute standstill.
According to the latest updates from highway authorities, the contractor in charge of the project has been given until December this year to complete the road, failing which the contract will be terminated.
The nearly 50-km Tura-Dalu road, which will be part of NH-217 B, was initially awarded to M Brahma Construction. After completing about 38% of the route, the company sub-let the project to another firm due to financial difficulties. Currently, the work progress stands at about 66%, despite the passage of six years.
The project is being overseen by NHIDCL authorities, with the local PWD (Public Works Department) playing a supporting role.
A highly placed source from NHIDCL, speaking on the reasons for the delay, pointed out that land acquisition in the initial stages was the first issue.
“Typically, before starting construction, 90% of the land needs to be handed over to us, but that did not happen in this case. Further, we are also stuck in a court case and have yet to be handed over 3.5 km of the route. The company has been asked to finish the road by December 2024, with or without the 3.5 km,” the source informed.
As per reports, many of the landowners accepted the land compensation provided but have still not handed over the land. They then approached the court, and a stay order is in place.
The tendering for the project was completed in 2017 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. While the project began earnestly, the first contractor, who completed most of the earth-cutting work on the route, suddenly gave up about two years after construction began.
Regarding the project encountering issues due to what has been termed a “sinking zone,” the source added that the matter has been reported to NHIDCL authorities, and a solution is being worked on.
“More protection walls are required, and this has been communicated. We should be back on track in the coming days. We had sought termination of the contract, but upon the contractor’s request, he has been allowed to continue, with December as the final deadline,” the source added.
Locals who use the route, however, are not amused.
“I don’t think they can complete the road even in the next five years at the rate they are going. Work has completely stalled for reasons best known to them, and our dreams of a leisurely drive between Dalu and Tura have gone up in smoke,” said SR Marak, a local resident of Dalu.
Two years on, virtually no progress has been made on the section between Tura and Dalu, and sections that were already in poor condition have continued to deteriorate — in fact, some have become worse than they previously were. There is also no update from the company on why the delay continues or what has been advised by NHIDCL regarding the sinking zone issue.
A visit late last week to the road showed only a handful of labourers engaged in work, mostly in the construction of retaining walls along the route.
“Is NHIDCL really blind to what is taking place? Why are they giving so much time to these contractors when they are fully aware of the situation faced by local residents? It looks like the road may break apart even before its completion. Imagine if this were a local contractor delaying road completion—people would have come out in protest. NHIDCL has been extremely negligent, and this delay is criminal,” said AM Marak, a resident of Tura.
Whether NHIDCL can actually push for the project’s completion within the year remains to be seen, as only four more months remain. Residents, however, are not optimistic. “Typically, it takes three years, but double that time has passed, and we are not keeping our hopes up. Let’s see what happens,” said another resident.