Nagaon Bypass-Dibrugarh: Possibility of completion before Dec 2022 remote

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The possibility of completing the entire Nagaon Bypass up to Dibrugarh via Gohpur is remote before December 2022. The work of this stretch of the four-lane highway is already too late.

The construction work of this bypass started way back in 2015, with the target schedules of completing it by 2018 or 2019. The NHIDCL (National Highways Infrastructure and Development Corporation Ltd) divided this road into several stretches and allotted the works to different construction companies. However, slow progress of works by some of the companies and land acquisition hiccups have delayed the project. The delay prompted the NHIDCL's Guwahati regional office to set completion targets for the completion of works.

Till the first part of October 2021, the progress of work of the ten-km stretch from Nagaon Bypass to Teliagaon is 48.10 per cent. Its target schedule is March 2022. Likewise, the progress of works and target schedules of different portions in the bypass are: 8.4-km Teliagaon to Rangagara stretch- 44.50 per cent and March 2022, 18.315-km Rangagara to Kaliabor Tiniali- 52.10 per cent and March 2022, 17.3-km Kaliabor Tiniali to Dolabari including a bridge over the Brahmaputra – 86.83 per cent and March 2022, Dolabari to Jamuguri - foreclosed due to slow progress and the process of work allotment underway, 26-km Jamuguri to Biswanath – 65.78 per cent and June 2022, Biswanath to Gohpur- foreclosed due to slow progress and work allotment underway, 10.08-km Gohpur to Holongi- 90.11 per cent and December 2021 or January 2022, Gohpur to Numaligarh – either a bridge or a tunnel across the Brahmaputra (not yet decided), 39.72-km Numaligarh to Jorhat- 77.56 per cent and March 2022, Jorhat to Jhanji- foreclosed due to slow progress and process for awarding work underway, 44.075-km Jhanji to Demow - 41.98 per cent and December 2022, 26.9-km Demow to Moran Bypass- 76.82 per cent and March 2022, 19-km Moran Bypass to Bogibeel- 62.25 per cent and October 2022, and Dibrugarh Bypass- the only fully completed portion in this stretch of the four-lane national highway.

Talking to The Sentinel, NHIDCL's Guwahati Regional Executive Director Pankaj Singh said, "It is the working season in Assam. We have instructed the construction companies to meet their target schedules. We have already terminated several construction companies in this stretch due to the slow progress of works. We had to foreclose the works of a few stretches on this highway recently due to the slow progress. If any company delays the work, we will act as per the agreement."

The NHIDCL needs to intensify its monitoring mechanism as people get a harrowing experience in the Nagaon Bypass-Dibrugarh stretch of the national highway.

Also Read:  NHIDCL sets Dec deadline to complete four-lane highway from Nagaon bypass to Dibrugarh

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