Assam: Cracks appear on road before completion, contractor accused of shoddy work in Tingkhong

Allegations of poor-quality construction have surfaced over a road being built under the Assam government's Mukhyamantri Pakipath Nirman Achoni, with cracks and pothole-like stretches reportedly appearing even before the project has been completed in Tingkhong constituency of Dibrugarh district.

The road, connecting Moran Gaon in Lengeri to Changmai via Shukanhatia on NH-52, falls under the 91 Tingkhong Assembly constituency, represented by Assam Cabinet Minister Bimal Bora.

According to local residents, the road was sanctioned at a cost of around Rs 98.24 lakh during the 2023-24 financial year. Its foundation stone was laid by Bimal Bora.

However, residents alleged that portions of the newly constructed road have developed cracks, uneven surfaces and pothole-like damage even before the construction work has been completed.

The condition of the road has triggered resentment among local residents, who had welcomed the project after waiting for decades for the road to be paved.

The Lengeri regional unit of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has alleged that substandard materials were used in the construction and demanded a proper inquiry into the project.

The student body has also called for the damaged road to be reconstructed and action to be taken against those responsible if irregularities are established.

Local residents have also expressed concern over the quality of the work and questioned how the road developed visible damage before the completion of the project.

The condition of the road has also raised questions over the monitoring and supervision of the construction work by the concerned authorities.

The allegations have put the contractor and the implementing department under scrutiny. A response from the contractor or the concerned authorities to the allegations was not immediately available.

The matter is likely to draw further attention as residents and the AASU have demanded an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and corrective measures.