CM Khandu constitutes committee to monitor progress; sets March 2021 as deadline

NATIONAL HIGHWAY-415 CONSTRUCTION WORK

* This highway connects Itanagar with Gohpur on one side and Banderdewa in Lakhimpur (both in Assam) on the other side

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ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has constituted a committee to monitor progress of the four-lane NH-415 (Package A) 24X7 and coordinate with the implementing agency for completion of the project before March next year.

Taking a review meeting with the PWD (Highway Zone) officials, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) representatives and the contractor firm — TK Engineering here, Pema Khandu said that the committee while monitoring the progress daily will also coordinate with the contractor in facilitating ease of work. "It will liaise with the other government agencies so that hurdles, if any, are resolved to fasttrack the work," he added.

The committee would be headed by PWD (Design & Planning) Chief Engineer Atop Lego along with Joint Secretary to CM Kangki Darang, OSD to CM LhamTashi and Consultant Pradeep Mehta, as members, a communiqué from the CMO informed.

The Package A of the highway, which starts from Chandranagar to PapuNallah, is 10.9 km in length.

The NH-415 connects the State capital of Itanagar with Gohpur in Assam's BiswanathChariali district on one side and Banderdewa in Lakhimpur district of Assam on the other side.

Home Minister Bamang Felix and Advisors to PWD Minister, PhosumKhimhun (East Zone) and PhurpaTsering (West Zone) would also personally monitor the work progress on a daily basis, the communiqué said.

When pointed out by the PWD Highway Zone officials, Khandu urged the TK Engineering CMD RotuTechi, to immediately overhaul his men and machinery deployed in construction of the stretch from Chandranagar to Papu-Nallah of the highway.

"The common people are suffering a lot. Therefore, we are not going to accept any excuses. Complete the stretch before March," the Chief Minister ordered.

Khandu also asked the construction agency to immediately increase the number of labourers, bring in sufficient materials and deploy adequate tools and plants with the target in mind. He suggested that the implementing party should plan workcharts of each period of 10 days so that targets are achieved from the micro level.

"Don't sit on your target of March 20, 2021. Plan and set a target of the next 10 days and work to complete it. If you achieve the target set for the next five to 10 days, you will be able to complete the project even by February. Set February as the target and get down to work," said the Chief Minister.

Felix, participating in the discussion said that the State machinery is fully committed to the project and ready for any kind of assistance to the contractors.

"On behalf of the Home department, I assure you security and protection round the clock. In return, you just have to complete the project at hand by the deadline," Felix added.

TK Engineering CMD Techi admitted that progress on the highway stretch suffered due to the pandemic and the prolonged monsoon season. He, however, assured that except for the underpass and two bridges, rest of the work would be completed before the deadline.

Techi further informed that while there was no shortage of materials, tools and plants, engaging labourers in good numbers has been a hurdle. He, however, informed that the issue is being resolved as labourers are now being brought in from Bihar and Jharkhand, among other States.

The 10.9 km (Package A) stretch of the highway consists of 2 bridges, 36 culverts, 1 underpass, 9.83 kms of protection walls and 17.025 kms of side drains. While work on one of the bridges is under progress, work on the other is yet to start.

The stretch of the highway from Gohpur to Chandranagar has already been completed. Meanwhile, it was informed that for the remaining stretch from Papu-Nallah to Banderdewa (Package B and C) all decks have been cleared by MoRTH. The tendering process for Package B is underway, which will be immediately followed by Package C. Khandu had recently announced in a public function that he would relinquish his post if the portion of the highway is not completed by March next year.

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