SHILLONG, July 22: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the state government to report on the steps initiated to address the issue of dilapidated condition of the Agia-Medhipara-Phulbari-Tura (AMPT) road, and a likely date for the completion of the entire repair and construction work of the same.
Hearing a PIL on the pitiable condition of AMPT road, the Division Bench of High Court also suggested the state government to ensure that some temporary measures are taken to level certain pothole-ridden stretches that make the road, at present, unpassable.
“It is heartening to note that Advocate for the State has personally driven about 130 km of the stretch to report on its present state. It appears that the illegal stone-quarrying activities on the sides have led to the use of heavy-duty vehicles that may have damaged the surface,” the High Court said.
It also referred to the media reports of the recent inspection of select stretches of the AMPT road conducted by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Meanwhile, the HC has also permitted the petitioner, who had sought further time to report on the present status of the road, to indicate the work progress.
The matter has been, meanwhile, listed for August 12.
It may be mentioned that the chief minister on Wednesday paid a visit to the area after scores of complaints about the AMPT road cropped up.
He had informed that work on the road was being taken up on an immediate basis with work expected to start in the month of September this year when rains relent.
The AMPT road has remained in a shabby state for decades with minimal repairs being undertaken on a nominal basis though a majority of the road has remained in shambles. It has also been the object of ridicule in the state for the fact that most sections of the road have not only become unnavigable while other sections remain a traveller’s nightmare.
