The four-lane highway under construction. Picture by UB Photos

Dhubri, Nov. 20: Nearly 500 days of strikes and blockades had hit the four-laning of National Highway 31 since 2006.

A source in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said work was started in 2006, but because of strikes and blockades on this route, construction could not be completed as scheduled.

The source said according to an agreement with the NHAI and a road construction company — M/S Progressive Construction Limited (PCL) — the four-lane work should have been completed in 2009 but till now barely 50 per cent of the work has been done.

“Not only the construction of the four-lane highway, but work including building of a bridge and culverts between Simultapi of Bengal and Kachugaon in Kokrajhar of Assam is also incomplete,” the source added.

The source said PCL was awarded the Rs 218-crore contract to construct a 30km four-lane stretch of NH 31 but the company has failed to execute the work. The source also alleged that the company has hardly any presence on the work sites and allegedly withdrawn from many of the sites.

Moreover, designing of two railway overbridges in Bongaigaon district were not finalised, which further hindered the work, the source said.

The prevailing condition of NH 31 has not only led to traffic congestion but has also resulted in frequent road mishaps.

When contacted, project director of the NHAI Bongaigaon section, S.K. Mallik, said strikes and blockades, besides the law and order situation, have so far delayed the project.

“There were 23 days’ strikes and blockades in July this year and because of this, it becomes very difficult to complete the project on time. However, around 65 per cent work has so far been completed,” Mallick said.

When asked on the target for completion, Mallik said he was expecting it to be completed by March 31 next year.