Villagers rue sluggish Ukhrul road job
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 20 2023: Sluggish pace of construction work on the Yaingangpokpi-Finch Comer stretch of NH 202 road (Ukhrul road) is not only causing serious inconveniences to villagers settling oh both flanks of the road but is creating apprehension of respiratory diseases due to prolonged exposure to dust.

Construction work on the 14.07km long road started in July, 2020 by Rajasthan-based MS Bharatia Infra Private Limited under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The total cost of the project is Rs 135.63 crore and includes double-lane widening with black-topping in Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) mode.

Though the project was targeted for completion by June 30, 2022, the deadline has been extended till June 5, 2023.Time taken to complete land acquisition process and delay in payment of compensation to the affected villagers were some reasons for the delay.

Unsatisfied with the present mode of the construction work and utilisation of inadequate manpower and machines by the construction company, villagers do not expect that the project would be completed any time sooner.

A team of media persons from Imphal assessed condition of the road project on Sunday during it came to light that work on major portion of the road is still incomplete.

The team found utilisation of only one machine for black-topping of the 4km-long stretch from Yaingangpokpi to Litan side.

The team also found one incomplete culvert at around 3km from Litan to Finch Corner side.

Meanwhile, a resident of Sangkai village located 7km from Litan towards Yaingangpokpi informed the media that leaving the road construction work incomplete for a long time has made the villagers suffer a lot and the entire villagers are forced to inhale dust particles throughout the day.

Every family of the village has to sprinkle water twice/thrice a day to control the dust, the villager informed.

While informing that with exception of one family payment of compensation to the affected land owners in respect of Sangkai village is almost complete, the villager expressed desire for completing the road project at the earliest possible time by clearing the pending compensation.

According to the Sangkai villager, the state government should put pressure on the construction company concerned for expediting the road project especially in inhabited areas.

The villager who runs a pharmacy further said that road dust has caused a problem for the entire villagers and his pharmacy needs to keep enough stock of medicines for cold and cough.

Meanwhile, a woman resident of Mongkat Chepu village along the same road stretch informed the media team that the entire villagers were delighted over widening of the road but the sense of elation has been diluted due to inordinate delay in executing the project.

She said that every house in the village is filled with dust and many including children suffer from cough and eye diseases.

Instead of speeding up the construction work during dry season with engagement of more manpower and machineries, the company is deploying handful of manpower and delaying the construction work, the Mongkat Chepu villager lamented, while adding that villagers are not satisfied with the ongoing mode of work.

She also warned that road accident is imminent if the construction work is not completed before the rainy season.

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