Is the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) giving false reports to the State government regarding repair of National Highway-6 in East Jaiñtia Hills?
It may be noted that the Meghalaya High Court had in the past directed the NHAI to file its report on the progress of the repair of NH-6 to the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaiñtia Hills.
Today, a meeting was held between the Extra Assistant Commissioner of the district, NHAI officials and headmen of Narpuh area following a request by the NHAI for reopening of the toll plaza at Lumshnong which was shut down for the last three months as local villagers wanted the dilapidated highway to be repaired first before toll collection could be allowed.
During today’s meeting, the headmen strongly opposed reopening of the toll plaza. They also accused NHAI of providing false reports regarding the repair of NH-6 from Mynkre to Malidor. According to them, the highway stretch remained in a deplorable condition.
The headmen alleged that the NHAI had lied to the district authorities by making claims that the highway had been repaired. According to the headmen, not even 10 per cent of the repair work including blacktopping has been completed.
Further, the headmen said that they would not allow the toll plaza to function until the repair of NH-6 was fully completed.
The headmen also told the Extra Assistant Commissioner not to accept the report filed by NHAI regarding the status of the NH-6.
People of East Jaiñtia Hills district have been constantly raising the demand for repair and restoration of the pot-hole ridden highway. The condition of the road had worsened after the recent monsoons resulting in hardship to commuters on this vital highway which connects to Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.
Similarly, MPs from four North East states – Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram – have asked Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to initiate steps for immediate repairing of the dilapidated National Highway-6.
In a memorandum to Gadkari on September 20, the MPs said, “We request that the road be repaired immediately to bring it to a safe and serviceable condition. This includes filling potholes, repairing damaged sections, and ensuring proper road markings and signage for the safety of commuters.”
