The crucial NH-54(E) connecting Barak Valley via Dima Hasao on East-West Corridor converted into dirt track and nowhere near completion; NHAI to realign 31-km Jatinga-Harangajao stretch
By Our Staff Reporter
Guwahati, Oct 24: People of Barak Valley and the hilly district of Dima Hasao will have to wait much longer before enjoying the fruits of modern-day road infrastructure.
The crucial tiol highway 54 (E) that cuts through the rugged and mountainous Barail range in Dima Hasao district to link Silchar with the rest of India via the East-West Corridor has been plagued by problems – from inclement weather conditions to unforgiving topography to insurgency – for years on end, leading to delays.
And 18 years after then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the mega East-West and North-South Corridor projects, there is still no sign of the crucial link to Barak Valley being completed any time soon. Over the years, the highway through hilly Dima Hasao district has been converted into a virtual dirt road and has become notorious for its treacherous condition during the rains, when it becomes well nigh un-motorable. The NH-54(E) traverses almost 230 km through the hilly district – from Lumding to Silchar via Haflong.
Now, the tiol Highway of Authority of India (NHAI), which is overseeing the execution of the 31-km Jatinga-Harangajao stretch in Dima Hasao, considered the most difficult section, has decided to realign the highway to overcome the hurdles posed by treacherous terrain. Accordingly, the public sector undertaking (PSU) is in touch with a German-based firm in this regard.
“We are in touch with the company for conducting a fresh survey so that the road alignment can be altered in that portion. The company has agreed in principle to assist us, though the modalities of the engagement are yet to be worked out,” NHAI Chief General Mager of Northeast Raj Chakraborty told The Sentinel.
That the NHAI is finding it tough to complete the work in this particular section is evident from the fact that it termited the contract with a firm earlier engaged in its construction — due to poor quality of work and delays. Interestingly, though the Central agency had subsequently floated new tenders thrice to award fresh contract, no road construction company came forward to bid for it.
The NHAI’s latest decision follows alysis in detail of the problems dogging the project, especially the Jatinga-Harangajao stretch.
Meanwhile, the PSU has also termited the contract with another firm – Pavan Construction Company – for delay in executing the 30-km Srirampur-Gossaigaon section on the East West Corridor. The new contract has been awarded to Simplex Infrastructures Ltd.
According to NHAI authorities, 60% of the work on the Srirampur-Gossaigaon stretch has been completed and they are hoping to complete the remaining work within the next two years.
The NHAI has also served an ultimatum to KMC Constructions involved in executing the East-West Corridor in Patacharkuchi for delay in completing the work. It has warned the company of termiting the contract, if its ultimatum is not complied with.
The total length of the East-West Corridor in Assam is 670 km, of which 637 km is being executed by NHAI, while the remaining portion is being implemented by tiol Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). The NHAI claims to have completed around 600 km of the project till date.