20th Sep 2019 10:09:PM State
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

ITANAGAR, Sep 20: Appalling condition of the National Highway passing through the state capital, particularly the 4-lane construction of the stretch between Itanagar and Naharlagun and the slow progress of the on-going rectification works has prompted Chief Minister Pema Khandu to intervene directly.
Chief Minister has entrusted his office (CMO) under the supervision of the Joint Secretary to CM, Kangki Darrang to monitor the work progress 24x7 and submit reports accordingly. He has directed the Joint Secretary to take up the issue seriously with the Highway (PWD) Department officials as well as representatives of T K Engineering, the firm executing the 4-lane project for fast-tracking on-going works. Acting on this directive, Joint Secretary along with OSD to CM, Lham Tashi, officials of Highway division and project executing firm physically inspected the stretch between Itanagar and Naharlagun up to Mani village near Midpu on the Yupia-Potin road early this morning. Interacting with the officials, Darrang categorically conveyed CM’s message that state government is seriously concerned about the slow progress of work which is causing undue hardships to the citizens who use this road on a daily basis. He further added that Chief Minister has resolved to personally monitor the day-to-day progress of the project and any lackadaisical approach, either on the part of the department or the contractor not be tolerated any further. 
“Chief Minister is aggrieved by the hardships faced by commuters for no fault of theirs and wants the project to be completed as soon as possible. As monsoon has retreated now, he wants all who are involved to put in everything to complete the road as per schedule,” Darrang said. He also said that the state government, including Chief Minister is aware of the uncalled hurdles that erupt on the ground during execution and is ready to offer whatever administrative support needed by the executing agency. “All that the Chief Minister wants is that this stretch of road between Itanagar and Naharlagun should be completed within this winter, no matter what it takes,” Darrang conveyed.

Meanwhile, officials of the executing firm informed that prolonged rainfall had slowed down works, but as rains have receded, all resources will be pressed into service from 25thof this month. They however requested the government to make traffic diversion through the alternative Jullang road during night to give their men and machinery a free hand to work in tandem without any disruption. They assured that if it is done, the said stretch will be completed within two months. Darrang assured to take up the matter with the District Administration and requested the PWD Highway Executive Engineer Nani Tath to coordinate the process for procuring requisite permission. While visiting the Shiv Mandir point where a culvert is to be constructed to avoid the sharp curve, he urged the officials to start ground work immediately and specifically called for immediate commencement of works on all culverts and bridges along the stretch since these structures take more time for completion.
The team visited all sections where works have slowed down or even stopped due to various reasons and called upon officials to resolve the issues such as removal of telephone/electricity poles, transformers, cables, water supply pipelines, septic tanks, etc and assured CMO’s intervention wherever needed.They also inspected the complex of the executing firm’s storehouse at Mani village and assured that there won’t be any dearth of raw materials for completion of the entire stretch as orders for the essential inputs like steel, bitumen, cement, etc have been placed with reputed companies which will be arriving soon.  CMO


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List