A maintenance drive on PMGSY roads was held at Nisangram Babupara in North Garo Hills district as part of the celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence under ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
The maintenance drive was held yesterday at L-21 road to Nisangram Babupara (2.503km). The T.04 road to Tengasot (1.766km) was covered earlier on Thursday.
Deputy Speaker and local MLA, Timothy D Shira present at the awareness cum maintenance drive said with the initiative of the department of PWD (R) through its implementation of PMGSY, people now have better road connectivity which is significant for boosting the socio-economic growth of the state and the country as a whole.
Speaking on the focused programme of PMGSY roads, he said that roads belong to the public and therefore they should have a sense of ownership on maintenance of such roads. “It is not the sole responsibility of the contractor to maintain the constructed roads but also of the public at large”, he added.
Executive Engineer of PWD (R), Resubelpara division, S Massar informed that the programme is being conducted as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav whereby the department had earlier held seminar on rural roads and awareness on maintenance of PMGSY road.
He highlighted the contribution of PMGSY in improving the socio-economic development of the rural areas and informed that towards the end of the nationwide PMGSY programme India would have 74000 km black top road benefitting 165902 villages.
Massar informed that in Meghalaya 561 PMGSY roads covering 437 villages and 33 long span bridges have been sanctioned. In North Garo Hills during 2018-19, 67 roads (250 km) and 2 LSB (99.68m) have been sanctioned, he added.
Emphasizing on the need of maintenance of constructed PMGSY roads, he apprised the gathering that a five year maintenance routine has been incorporated under PMGSY wherein the contractor has to maintain the roads for a period of five years in terms of repairing defects/potholes on roads, road marking, traffic signage and information board, etc. However, he said, damages caused due to natural calamity does not fall under the purview of the five years maintenance routine.
He further urged the public and stakeholders to be vigilant in the maintenance of roads and to report to the concerned department regarding any road damages.
