[Bengia Ajum]
MIAO, 13 Mar: With the deadline of 31 March given by Chief Minister Pema Khandu to complete the Miao-Vijaynagar (MV) road nearing, it increasingly looks like the project will not meet the deadline.
The 157-km-long MV road has been divided into five packages. While Packages 1, 2 and 3 are complete, the work is still ongoing in Packages 4 and 5. Package 5 in particular is progressing at a snail’s pace, thereby derailing the whole project. Package 4 (38 miles to Gandhigram) and Package 5 (Gandhigram to Vijaynagar, 16 kms) are taking time to complete.
Khandu, while on a visit to remote Vijaynagar circle on 25 March last year, had assured the local people that he would ensure completion of the MV road by 31 March, 2022.
“I think if one month more time is provided, ie, 31 April, then Part 4 will be mostly through, except blacktopping. But making road completely through as per the scope of the DPR, it will take another season to complete in all respects,” said a local official of Miao subdivision.
In Package 4, GSB has been laid up to 79 miles.
“In this package, three major bridges are pending. It will be very difficult to complete these bridges by 31 March, whatsoever the case may be. Also, WMM work is going on in various stretches but no chance of completing blacktopping in certain stretches by 31 March,” the official said.
Also, a major chunk of culverts is yet to be completed in this package. The situation is worse than in Package 5.
“In no circumstances three major bridges, including the most critical Hozolo bridge, will be completed. Only one abutment of one bridge has been completed till now. The cement stock as well as fuel stock in Part 5 is meagre and couldn’t last even five days of work,” the official alleged.
The official further alleged that T&P and labour deployment is also very poor in Package 5.
“GSB laying for this package may also not be completed, leave apart the WBM and carpeting,” he added. The official stated that, realistically, in Package 4, till 31 March, GSB will be laid up to 82 miles at the most, and if it doesn’t rain then there is a possibility of laying GSB up to Gandhigram,” the official said.
“At least two critical bridges of Package 4 will not be completed and vehicles will not be able to reach Gandhigram during the rainy season. Also, around 70 culverts as per scope would be left unconstructed till then,” he added.
Regarding Package 5, the official claimed that GSB on the whole stretch is impossible. “There will be zero blacktopping till 31 March. At most one bridge will be completed, but chances are bleak. Without bridges, Package 5 will not be through during the rainy season,” he said.
The major portion of the MV road passes through the Namdapha Tiger Reserve. Keeping this in mind, the stretch of the road between 10 miles and 78 miles will only have GSB. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has refused to grant permission for blacktopping of this particular stretch of the road.
