Newly laid road surface peels off in Assam's Kaliabor within 24 hours, locals allege poor-quality work

The black-topping of an under-construction rural road connecting Shensowa village in Assam’s Kaliabor with Puwathariya has reportedly started peeling off within 24 hours of being laid, prompting residents to raise questions over the quality of the ongoing reconstruction work.

The approximately two-kilometre road is currently being reconstructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) after remaining in a dilapidated condition for nearly a decade. However, residents have alleged that the newly laid bitumen surface has begun coming off in patches, raising concerns over the quality of materials and construction practices being used by the contractor.

According to local residents, the bitumen layer was allegedly applied without properly cleaning the road surface of dust and sand. They claimed that portions of the newly laid asphalt could be removed with minimal pressure, with the black-topping reportedly coming off in layers.

The alleged deterioration was noticed shortly after the road was black-topped, residents said, while the reconstruction work is still underway.

Locals have alleged irregularities and lapses in the execution of the project and have called for scrutiny of the quality of the construction work. They have also questioned whether prescribed construction standards and procedures were followed during the laying of the bituminous surface.

The road had remained in poor condition for nearly 10 years before being taken up for reconstruction under the PWD. Residents had expected the project to improve connectivity for people in Shensowa and surrounding areas.

However, the reported peeling of the black-topping during the ongoing construction has led to renewed concerns among residents over the durability of the reconstructed road.

Residents have also alleged that PWD officials and engineers responsible for overseeing the project have not taken adequate notice of the reported lapses. They have sought inspection of the road and verification of the quality of the materials and workmanship used in the reconstruction.

The allegations are yet to be independently verified, and no official response from the PWD or the contractor concerned was available at the time of reporting.