Representatives of M/s Woodhill Shivam, the main contractor for the Papu Nallah-Nirjuli stretch of the four-lane national highway, did not appear in court to make submissions regarding the long delay in the execution of the project. The company is a respondent in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by two citizens before the Gauhati High Court, which had specifically sought a detailed report on the progress of the highway project that has missed its deadlines multiple times.
The original deadline for completion was 7 December, 2024; however, an extension was granted to the contractor until 31 July, 2026.
The 11.3-km project, sanctioned at a cost of Rs 496.4 crore, was awarded for Rs 341.72 crore. Project records indicate that drainage construction has been completed for 12 km out of the total 18 km planned, while work on the remaining 6 km is still pending. Overall, the project has achieved a physical progress of 48.67 percent, while financial progress stands at 45.94 percent, amounting to an expenditure of Rs 165.82 crore so far.
The construction agency must bear responsibility and present all relevant documents before the court in person, as instructed. It must also address the grievances of the people who were compelled to seek judicial intervention due to sheer frustration over the delay in completing this vital capital road project. At the same time, work must be expedited to meet the revised deadline. Prolonged delays in the project have not only made travel within the capital extremely challenging but have also severely affected businesses in and around the construction site, forcing many to shut down. The question remains: who will bear responsibility for these losses?