Our Correspondent
MANGALDAI: The unnecessary delay in the construction of the NH-15 bypass and the lackadaisical attitude of the construction agency have created widespread resentment in Mangaldai. The alarming increase in road accidents on NH-15, due to the growing movement of all types of vehicles through Mangaldai town, has led to severe traffic congestion and raised significant concerns among residents.
To address this issue, and following the long-standing demand of the people, Darrang-Udalguri Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia took initiatives both inside and outside Parliament. These efforts resulted in the approval of the bypass construction by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
The 15.26 km stretch of the bypass began construction in June 2023, and on June 5, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari virtually laid the foundation stone from New Delhi. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia. The project, costing approximately Rs 535 crore, is being executed by Vensar Construction Company, a Hyderabad-based contractor, with a target completion time of two years.
The project includes earthwork, six small bridges, 44 culverts, guard walls, and other infrastructure. However, despite the two-year deadline, progress has been slow, with only 40% of the work completed as of last month, while the contractor has already received 30% of the funds. MP Dilip Saikia has emphasized the need to expedite the remaining work. Recently, he expressed deep dissatisfaction with the slow progress during a telephonic conversation with senior officials of the contractor. He had previously reviewed the project’s progress multiple times and instructed the contractor to complete about 80% of the work before the onset of the monsoon. In his latest communication, he issued a stern directive to the contractor to complete the project by December under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, the information boards installed by the contractor at both ends of the bypass lack key details, such as the project completion timeline, contact numbers of the contractor’s authorized personnel, and other relevant information.
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