Horrific condition of Itanagar-Jote road spotlight NIT students
Itanagar
By Manoj Singh
With prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT) shifting to its permanent campus at Jote, the horrific condition of Itanagar-Jote road is in spotlight. Majority of NIT students who hails from various parts of country is reportedly thinking leaving study due to bad road and lack of basic amenities. Besides, NIT the state’s first government Law College at Jote is also expected to start functioning from next academic session and Institute of film and Television to come up soon and other government project and others.
However the pathetic condition of the stretch of road between Itanagar and Jote poses major challenges for students as well as college authorities. State government sanctioned Rs 12 crore for maintenance of said road and tender process was initiated by PWD Doimukh in March 2017. But strangely till now tender result has not been declared.
While talking to this Arunachal24 Executive Engineer PWD Doimukh division Nabam Tado informed that tender file is currently in the office of commissioner PWD and added that as soon as he gets clearance the result will be declared. “This 12 crore is for maintenance which include carpeting and construction of drain in some stretches. But there are 4 major bridges in the said stretch and we have not got any fund for it. We need atleast Rs 31 crore to revamp the whole stretch of road,” said EE. Further he added that department is not aware of any plan to construct two lane highways as was promised by the CM Khandu.
A student of NIT while talking to this Arunachal24 has appealed to state government in particularly Chief Minister Pema Khandu to intervene. “Road is state subject and therefore we are hoping that our CM will take some initiative. We feel ashamed when students from outside make fun of the road condition. It takes around 2 hour to complete 35 KM journey between Itanagar and Jote. Incase of emergency medical case students as well as public face torrid time,” said another student of NIT.
Few public leaders of the area without naming allege PWD of maintaining lackadaisical attitude toward the road condition and said that not only upto Jote but the whole stretch of road from Itanagar to Sangdupoto Circle via Jote is same and repairing and maintenance is only eyewash.
