Arunachal: Pene-Mechuka road delay continues to strangle connectivity in Shi Yomi

Decades after construction began, the 50-kilometre stretch of the Pene–Mechuka road in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi Yomi district remains in a chronic state of incompletion, leaving locals, tourists, and defence personnel grappling with hazardous travel conditions.
 

The road, marked by treacherous stretches, frequent landslides, and broken terrain, is the only arterial link connecting the remote but scenic town of Mechuka with Aalo in Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite Mechuka’s rising profile as a tourism hotspot and its strategic importance along the Indo-China border, the condition of the road has remained largely unchanged for years. 

The region, inhabited by Memba, Ramo (Adi), Bokar, Tagin and Libo communities, relies almost entirely on this route, not just for connectivity but for economic sustenance. Tourism, the only thriving industry in the area, has taken a hit due to the crumbling infrastructure.

In multiple public statements, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed concern over the prolonged delays in road construction, particularly along the Tato–Mechuka two-lane highway. 

Speaking to India Today NE, Khandu pointed to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as the executing agency and admitted that several tenders had to be terminated due to poor progress before being reissued. He assured that the pace of work would improve under renewed supervision.

Local MLA and Minister for RWD, Tourism and Education, P.D. Sona, who represents the Mechuka–Tato Assembly constituency, blamed the slow progress on issues ranging from lack of manpower and machinery to a problematic system of subcontracting. “From Aalo to Pene, BRO is responsible. From Pene to Tato, the tender has now been awarded to PH Construction after resolving high court-level compensation issues. The main challenge is that large contractors often sub-let their work to smaller ones who lack the technical and financial capacity to deliver. This has plagued all three packages in the district,” he said.

The project, estimated at Rs 195.51 crore, is divided into three major packages covering a total of 33 km. PH Construction is handling a 17.5 km stretch. Limar Bagra, an engineer from the company, said work is now proceeding “in full swing” and will be completed by 2026. 

“Earlier delays were due to compensation issues, but those are now resolved. We are fully equipped and following the timeline,” he said.

AK Enterprise, which is tasked with a 15 km segment, claims to have completed 83 per cent of its work. Project Manager Lalan Kumar said blacktopping has begun in some stretches and expects completion by July 2025. “Bad weather, frequent landslides, BRO blasting activity, and military movement limit our daily working hours to just five to six. But we’re staying on track,” he said.

The recurring delays have had broader implications beyond missed deadlines. Locals complain that administrative functions and developmental work in the border district are paralysed, with residents having to endure extreme difficulty in accessing healthcare, markets, and other essential services.

In a region where infrastructure is key to both development and national security, the Pene–Mechuka road remains a glaring symbol of bureaucratic stagnation and unfulfilled promises.