By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 11: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday said the repair work for a 45-km damaged stretch of the National Highway (NH-6) between Jowai and Ratacherra should be completed by March next year.
In its order on November 6, the bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice B Bhattacharjee noted that the entire highway is 102.225 km long and out of the 45 km Jowai-Ratacherra portion, 5 km is very badly damaged.
The court, inter alia, directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair this 5 km on an emergency basis so that it becomes conveniently pliable for vehicles.
Appearing for the NHAI on Wednesday, S Sengupta submitted that in compliance with the said order of the bench, emergency repair work has been carried out in the 5 km stretch.
Additional Advocate General K. Khan, appearing for the state, submitted that the government rendered all assistance to the authority to ensure smooth traffic movement during this repair work.
Sengupta further submitted that the remaining repair work would be completed by March 2025.
The Court directed S Panthi, the amicus curiae representing the deceased Kynjaimon Amse, to inspect the 5 km damaged portion of the highway and file a short report before the returnable date concerning Sengupta’s submission that repair work in this stretch has been completed.
The bench also said the repair work for the rest of the 45 km should continue towards completion, as Sengupta assured.
The state government was directed to render all assistance to the NHAI to ensure smooth traffic movement during the repair work.
