Agartala, Jun 16, 2024, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala/ Kumarghat, June 16: Minister Tinku Roy led-meeting over alleged irregularities in alternative National Highway No-208 constructed works, has formed a committee to inspect the construction and submit a report.

The meeting, attended by presence of Unakoti District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma, Additional District Magistrate Dasharath Debbarma, Subdivisional Officers Pradip Sarkar and N.S. Chakma, Superintendent Engineer Ratiranjan Debnath, National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) official Pankaj Yadav and representatives from the National Highway Authority and state Water Resources and Health Department was held at the conference hall of Circuit House in Kailashahar on Sunday.

During the meeting, the NHIDCL officials faced criticism for compromising in construction quality.

Minister Tinku Roy expressed dissatisfaction and demanded prompt rectification.

A committee, comprising district officials and NHIDCL engineers, was instructed to inspect damage across Unakoti District and submit a detailed report to the District Magistrate. Minister Roy stressed urgent and high-quality repairs by NHIDCL.

It was learnt that the allegation of irregularities in the construction of three new roads on the National Highway- Kailashahar to Kumarghat, Kailashahar to Demdum and Kailashahar to Kurti- was sparked among various social organizations and opposition parties.

Opposition leaders claimed the highways were constructed substandard, which caused the premature collapse of roadside walls and potholes.

However, the local authorities initially dismissed these claims, but recent heavy rainfall, especially during the first week of June, has caused severe damage to these roads in different areas of Unakoti District.

The worst affected roads were newly built double-lane highways- the 16-kilometer stretch from Kailashahar to Kumarghat, the 34-kilometer stretch from Kailashahar to Demdum and the 7-kilometer stretch from Kailashahar to Kurti.

It was learnt that the poor construction caused extensive soil erosion and large potholes.

The construction agency, NHIDCL still oversees these incomplete roads, not yet transferred to the state maintenance department. The question of repair responsibility remains.

In response, Minister Tinku Roy called a meeting at the conference hall of Circuit House in Kailashahar on Sunday.