Deputy Chief Minister incharge PWD (Roads) Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said that Rs 230 crore has been sanctioned for repairing the dilapidated National Highway (NH) 6 in the state.
“The work order has already been issued to two groups (of contractors) for starting the repairing of the NH-6,” Tynsong told reporters.
A status report submitted before the Meghalaya High Court on June 21 had informed that the work in respect of the Jowai –Ratacherra section in NH-6 to the extent of 102.225 km is being attended to and the work is carried out and that two contractors have been identified namely M/s Purbanchal Buildtech Pvt Ltd and M/s Dhar Constructions Company and that the work is going to commence to strengthen the road and rectify the potholes.
During the hearing, the counsel for the respondents stated that unless the stretch of the road is strengthened, it may create further damage to the road and the bridge, as referred to in the status report dated 26.02.2024.
He also stated that while attending to the repair works on account of deterioration of the road, they will ensure that none is affected and that pipelines which are said to pose threat to the passengers and pedestrians are also attended to.
He further stated that there is no leakage in the hazardous pipelines while strengthening the road.
The counsel for the respondents also submitted that it would take at least a year for the repair work to be carried out as mentioned in the status report and also ensure that the work will be completed within a period of five to six months.
Counsel for the petitioner submits that the matter is pending for a long time and that unless the work is carried out at the earliest point of time it will be very difficult for the citizens to commute.
“Though the respondents have stated that the contractors require more time to complete the work, they ensure that the work will be completed within five to six months. In order to ascertain the progress, we direct the Registry to list the matter on 27.08.2024,” the Court had stated in its order.
“In the meantime in case of any exigency/emergency, it is open to the petitioner to mention the matter before this Court after giving due notice to the respondents. This Court has permitted the respondents to carry out repairs and also given liberty to the petitioner to mention the matter before this Court in case if any exigency/emergency,” it added.
The court had also stated,” Due to heavy rains and there is a possibility of cyclonic storm in the months of June – July, the road will still become worse and it is not safe for the motorist, pedestrian, passer-by and the like. We advanced the hearing today and Counsel appearing for NHAI would submit that he will ascertain the correct status of the road and in case of any repair work to be done, the same will be attended to.”
The NHAI has been asked to file a status report on or before next date of hearing on July 8.
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