Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla is still unhappy over the slow pace of construction work of National Highway 6 in East Jaiñtia Hills district.
Shylla, who had inspected the NH 6 stretch in December, again made another inspection yesterday to find that the highway construction continues to face sluggish progress.
Prior to the inspection, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) during a review meeting held at the office of the East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner informed that around 65 per cent of the work is progressing and that the remaining work would be completed in two months. However, the MLA, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi, Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, officials of the district in the presence of NHAI officials, during the inspection found the progress of work beyond Sonapur tunnel to be sluggish.
The MLA said NHAI has been directed to take adequate steps including deployment of additional manpower and machines to expedite the work.
“I have inspected the whole stretch of NH6 from Khliehriat till Malidor along with NHAI and district officials and I am concerned seeing the slow pace of work. I feel the plight of local residents, commuters who have to bear with dust, traffic disruptions and bad road conditions. I will take up the matter with higher authorities and we have directed NHAI to ensure the completion of repair work before rain,” she said.
Awasthi informed during the inspection that the administration is in continuous touch with NHAI with respect to ongoing work and no-entry of heavy vehicles from 9 am to 5 pm has been imposed so construction work is not hampered.
Prasad highlighted the critical locations where breakdown of vehicles leads to traffic jams and asked NHAI to take up these locations on priority and finish the work in the next two weeks.
