Arunachal: CMO Teams inspects Itanagar-Naharlagun Highway
Joint Secretary Darrang along with OSD to CM, Lham Tashi, early this morning physically inspected the stretch between Itanagar and Naharlagun up to Mani village near Midpu on the Yupia-Potin road.
Itanagar
Concerned with the road condition of the national highway passing through the state capital, particularly the 4-lane construction on the stretch between Itanagar and Naharlagun, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has entrusted the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) under the supervision of the Joint Secretary to CM, Kangki Darrang, to monitor the work progress 24X7 and submit reports. He has directed the Joint Secretary, in no lesser terms, to seriously take up with the Highway (PWD) departmental officials as well as the representatives of the T K Engineering, firm executing the 4-lane project, for fast-tracking the ongoing works.
Joint Secretary Darrang along with OSD to CM, Lham Tashi, early this morning physically inspected the stretch between Itanagar and Naharlagun up to Mani village near Midpu on the Yupia-Potin road. They were accompanied by officials of the Highway division and the project executing company.
Interacting with the officials, Darrang categorically conveyed the message of the Chief Minister that the state government is seriously concerned about the slow progress of work, which is causing undue hardships to the citizens who travel on the road on daily basis. He informed that the Chief Minister has resolved to personally monitor the everyday progress of the project and asserted that lackadaisical approach of either the department or the contractor towards easing the hardships of the citizen will not be tolerated any further.
“The Chief Minister is aggrieved by the hardships faced by commuters for no fault of theirs and wants the project to be completed as soon as possible. As monsoons have retreated now, he wants everybody involved to put in everything to complete the road as per schedule,” Darrang said.
He said that the state government, including the Chief Minister, is aware of the uncalled hurdles that erupt on the ground during execution and is ready to offer whatever administrative support needed by the executing agencies.
“All that the Chief Minister wants is that this stretch of road between Itanagar and Naharlagun should be completed within this winter, no matter what it takes,” Darrang conveyed.
Officials of the executing company informed that the prolonged rainfalls have put on hold their plan to work on the stretch of road on war footing. However, as rains have receded now, the company would put all its resources on the job from 25th of this month, they said.
The officials however requested the government to make traffic diversions during the nights to give their men and machinery a free hand to work in tandem without any disruption. They informed that unless the stretch is made traffic-free, progress of work won’t go in the desired pace so as to complete the project within this winter. They assured that if traffic is diverted through an alternative road (Jullang road), the stretch will be completed within two months.
Darrang assured to take up the matter with the district administration and requested PWD Highway Executive Engineer Nani Tath to coordinate and process for procuring the requisite permission and issuance of directives.
Visiting the Shiv-Mandir point, where a culvert is to be constructed to avoid the sharp curve, Darrang urged the officials to start the ground work immediately. He specifically called for immediate start of works on all culverts and bridges along the stretch of highway as these structures take more time for completion.
The CMO team visited all sections, where works have slowed down or even stopped due to various reasons. Calling upon the officials to resolve all issues such as removal of assets like telephone/electricity poles, transformers, cables, water supply pipelines, septic tanks, etc, they assured intervention of the CMO wherever needed.
The CMO officials also inspected the complex of the executing company at Mani village where most of the materials like gravel, etc, required for road construction are stocked. They were informed that there won’t be any dearth of raw materials for completion of the entire road stretch. For materials like steel, bitumen, cement, etc orders have been placed with reputed companies, which will be arriving soon.
