MPCC picks flaws

Ukhrul, Jan 12 : The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has shed light on the flaws and irregularities in the ongoing highway construction along NH-202 from Yaingang-pokpi to Finch Corner and Yaingangpokpi to Jessami via Ukhrul and from Ukhrul to Tadubi along NH-102(A).
MPCC president MLA K Meghachandra highlighted the mishandling and compromises in the quality of work in the road projects according to the guidelines of National Highway construction during a press conference held today as part of the "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram" campaign at Wino Bazar, Ukhrul.
Addressing the press briefing, K Meghachandra asserted that the standard of work appears to have been neglected in the construction of the two highways which serve as vital routes connecting the people of Ukhrul district with Imphal and Nagaland.
The 30.6 km stretch road project from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner commenced in 2020 with a completion target of 20 months. However, after more than 6 years, it is yet to be completed, he said.
The work components such as road cutting, blacktopping, construction of drainage systems, culverts, retaining walls, and breast walls are far from completion while the construction of bridges along the route is sluggish.
Stating that the overall work progress is not satisfactory, he cited "a clear indication of no transparency and accountability without any tangible changes" despite the Central Government pumping in crores for the development of the National Highway.
Adding to this, he said the construction of the NH-202 stretch from Yaingangpokpi to Jessami was a contract work allotted in six packages to six firms.
A separate engineering cell of the State Quality Monitoring System (SQMS) should have been opened for each of the six packages to supervise and monitor the highway construction work. However, only one SQMS office has been opened so far, which has given contractors and sub-contractors a free reign to loot public funds, he claimed.
Alleging that the contractors are ineligible for the projects, the MPCC president further questioned why they are sub-letting the work to more than 50 sub-contractors.
He further claimed that the contractors are not following the original Detailed Project Report (DPR)/new alignment according to images he obtained from Google Earth.
Elaborating on this, he said there is hardly any evidence of box cutting for shortening the route as per the new alignment and the material used for construction such as stone, sand, cement etc were of low quality.
Moving on to the highway construction along NH-102 (A) from Ukhrul to Tadubi (90 km), he said the work was awarded to three firms, namely, SS Builder (41.4 km), MS Satish Agarwal & Co (31.1 km) and MS AK Shiva Raj Infra Ltd (23.9 km).
According to K Meghachandra, the road stretch should have been at par with the Delhi to Agra Highway in quality.
In contrast, the quality of work was found to be substandard.
The vertical slope cutting and untimely construction of breast wall etc has resulted in frequent landslides and soil erosion thereby causing roadblock during the rainy season, he said.
He also highlighted the negligence of agencies like NHIDCL, PWD and others which have failed to monitor and supervise the progress of the construction work.
The State Government's ambitious programmes like "Go to Hills" launched to understand the problems and hardships of the public and offer redressal have no meaning for the people of Ukhrul.
K Meghachandra also criticized the quality of services rendered by the "double engine Government" to the citizens of Manipur while adding that people have lost faith in the BJP led State Government.
While Manipur is currently under President's Rule, the BJP led Government is at the Centre. The Congress party will raise the mishandling of highway construction after documenting the work details and the people's grievances will be submitted to the Manipur Governor, the Ministry of Road & Transport and even the Prime Minister for their immediate intervention, said the MPCC president.
K Meghachandra shared that the Congress party had started cross checking the development work that was sponsored by the Centre and State in Manipur from 2022. However, the crisis which erupted in May, 2023 had disabled them from reaching out to the hill districts of Manipur.