Commuting is becoming a nightmare for the drivers along a four-km stretch on the NH-33 since potholes have developed in less than a fortnight since the monsoon began.
The four-km stretch between Jamshedpur and Asanboni on the NH-33 linking steel city to Ranchi with the advent of monsoon has once again developed craters and potholes and what is worse is that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has termed ‘repair’ of this stretch technically not feasible.The chief general manager NHAI Jharkhand, Ravinder Kumar has informed the Jharkhand chief secretary RS Sharma in a meeting recently that soil property along with heavy traffic on this area of NH-33 makes ‘repair work’ on this stretch technically ‘non-feasible’.A team of senior officials of NHAI along with Hyderabad-based concessionaire of the NHAI four lane project between Ranchi and Jamshedpur, Madhucon Projects limited conducted survey from nearly 12 points on this NH-33 stretch and reached to this conclusion.
Sources said that the inspection is being carried out also to assess the progress of road-widening projects along NH-33. Even though land was acquired in many areas, the four-lane widening work is yet to begin, they added.“Most areas have started showing signs of wear and tear. There is a heavy flow of traffic in the route since it is an NH. However, the authorities are yet to take any steps,” said an official.
The alternate road is essential so that the huge traffic on this stretch of NH-33 (nearly 2.5 lakhs daily) does not get affected as the concessionaire undertakes extraction of the soil layer on the existing NH-33 stretch before carrying out repair work.Meanwhile, Madhucon Projects limited project director Uday Kumar said that they had already spent Rs 2.5 crore on repair work on this stretch after instruction of Governor’s advisor K Vijay Kumar in March.
“However, due to the heavy rain, it has become slushy. But we hope to start proper work. If there is no hindrance due to rains, we expect to finish the work in the next few days. The road will be completely renovated,” the officials said.