Itanagar: Commuters in Naharlagun and adjoining areas faced massive traffic congestion on Tuesday after the closure of the NH-415 stretch from Yupia Junction to Barapani Bridge for construction work. With vehicles diverted through alternate routes, long snarls were reported throughout the day, prompting widespread public outrage on social media.
Frustrated citizens questioned the timing of the construction, expressing concern over the decision to initiate major roadwork during the onset of the rainy season. Many took to online platforms to criticise the administration for poor planning and lack of foresight.
Amid growing public discomfort, the Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court, in a separate but related development, pulled up the Arunachal Pradesh government and central authorities over the poor condition of the NH-415 highway between Itanagar and Banderdewa.
A division bench comprising Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 11/2024) filed by Vijay Jamoh and another resident of Naharlagun.
During a recent visit to the under-construction permanent High Court building at Naharlagun, the judges found the adjoining road “unmotorable.”
Advocate General I. Choudhury, who was present during the inspection, later raised the issue with Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the court was informed.
The case concerns the four-laning of NH-415 from Km 40+430 to Km 51+735 under EPC mode. According to the contract with M/s Woodhill Shivam, the project was supposed to be completed by December 7, 2024. However, significant delays have hampered progress.
The contractor’s counsel assured the court that the road would be made motorable preferably within a month, while Subash Chandra, Regional Officer of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), said the ministry would closely monitor the work.
The court directed that the matter be listed every two weeks beginning May 22, and ordered MoRTH and the contractor to file status reports before each hearing. It also warned of “consequential orders” in case of non-compliance.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 22.
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