Under construction highway in Arunachal’s Papum Pare faces severe damage as culverts collapse

An under-construction highway in Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district has come under scrutiny after several newly constructed culverts along the route were reportedly damaged or completely destroyed.

The road is being developed to connect Naharlagun through Durpang village towards the Chessa River, Chengmara and Kokila areas near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary, while also providing connectivity towards the Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi.

According to local allegations, multiple culverts constructed along the highway have suffered extensive damage despite the road project still being under construction. The condition of the affected stretches has raised concerns over the quality of construction and the supervision of ongoing works.

The reported deterioration has also triggered questions over the role of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the contractors responsible for executing the project. Allegations have been raised that inadequate construction quality and insufficient monitoring may have contributed to the failure of the newly constructed structures.

The damaged culverts have reportedly affected the condition and usability of portions of the highway, creating difficulties for movement along the route. The road is considered important for connectivity between areas around Naharlagun, the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and Hollongi, where the state’s Donyi Polo Airport is located.

The reported failures have prompted demands for an assessment of the damaged structures, including verification of construction standards, material quality and adherence to approved technical specifications.

Local residents and road users have sought intervention from the concerned authorities and called for appropriate corrective measures before further work is undertaken on the affected sections.

The condition of the project has also raised broader concerns over quality control and accountability in the execution of public infrastructure projects in the state. A technical inspection by the competent authorities could establish the reasons behind the failure of the culverts and determine responsibility, if any.