Shillong, Mar 29: A team of East Jaintia Hills district authorities led by local MLA Santa Mary Shylla expressed dissatisfaction over the “slow progress” of repair work on vulnerable stretches of national highway 6 in the district.
After conducting an inspection along with the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials on Thursday, the NPP legislator from Sutnga-Saipung expressed concern over the slow progress of work, especially beyond Sonapur.
“I have inspected the whole stretch of NH-6 from Khliehriat till Malidor,” she said while expressing concern over 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 the start of the rains,” she said.
NHAI officials had earlier informed the MLA during a review meeting that the progress of the work was around 65% and the remaining work expected to be completed within two months.
However, according to the deputy commissioner Shivansh Awasthi, progress of work beyond Sonapur at Kuliang, Umkiang and Ratacherra was found to be very slow.
The administration is in continuous touch with NHAI and no-entry of heavy vehicles from 9 AM to 5 PM has been imposed on request of NHAI so that the work can be expedited, the DC said.
He said the NHAI has been directed to take adequate steps including deployment of additional manpower and machines to expedite the work.
Superintendent of police Giri Prasad also highlighted critical locations where breakdown of vehicles leads to traffic jams and asked the NHAI to take up these locations on priority and finish the work in the next two weeks.
Headmen of Umkiang and local residents, who were also part of the inspection team, urged the NHAI to expedite the work and the district administration to ensure continuous monitoring.
