The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said that substantial repair work of the Jowai-Ratacherra stretch of National Highway-6 has been completed, but at some places the repair work along with the usual maintenance are continuing.
The NHAI gave this information during the hearing of a PIL filed by Kynjaimon Amse in the Meghalaya High Court today.
According to the NHAI, the entire stretch of 102.255 km from Jowai to Ratacherra would be repaired and restored by January 10, 2023 at the latest.
During the hearing, the division bench of the High Court also pointed out to the deplorable condition of the Jowai Bypass.
According to the court, vehicles coming from the Shillong side and going to Khliehriat and beyond, particularly goods vehicles, use the bypass. Similarly, Shillong or Guwahati-bound vehicles coming from the Silchar side and not needing to go to Jowai use the bypass.
“Such bypass is in a deplorable condition and requires immediate repair,” the High Court said.
However, the NHAI lawyer told the court that it is not immediately clear whether the responsibility for repairing the Jowai Bypass is of the NHAI or of the State PWD.
However, the High Court insisted that the bypass requires immediate repair work for it to be usable.
“Whether it is the NHAI or the State PWD (Roads), the appropriate organisation should take immediate steps in such regard such that the repair work is completed by the middle of January, 2023,” the court said.
The High Court also directed the petitioner (Kynjaimon Amse) to forward a copy of this order to the State PWD (Roads) for immediate appropriate action, in the event that it is the PWD (Roads) which is responsible for the relevant stretch of road.
The court also said that the matter will appear immediately after the vacation. It also directed the State government to file a status report to indicate the state of roads and the extent of repair work undertaken by PWD (Roads) to repair and maintain the same.
