State BJP dismayed with BRO using ‘wasted material’

BJP state unit Thursday said the party was disappointed with Border Road Organization (BRO) for using ‘wasted material’ from the existing road for filling potholes at Jarnapani stretch along National Highway (NH) – 29.
In a statement, state BJP unit general secretary and spokesman K. James Vizo said the party appreciated the BRO for commencing the resurfacing of NH- 29. However, state unit party president Dr M. Chuba Ao lamented that quality road was “hardly noticed.”
State BJP unit also raised queries as to why the thickness of the roads was not upgraded to 5-6 inches since the flow of traffic has enormously increased over the years. The party also wanted to know why for the last 20 or more years, the expenditure for the maintenance of road was kept at Rs 1.5 lakh per km without further enhancing the amount. BJP state unit also asked whether it was due to lack of machineries and money or due to non-availability of sufficient sand and stones, BRO has been unable to maintain quality road in Nagaland.
BJP also reminded that in the late 1990s, the passenger car units was 1000 to 2000 approximately, while the thickness of the road was 3 inches and those days only six wheel loaded trucks were on the road. However, with the improved socio-economic development, 12 wheeled loaded trucks were now seen plying on the same road for which the strength of the road has to be upgraded to withhold the weight. And more over the flow of vehicles has increased more than ten times, thus the thickness of the road was needed to be upgraded to 5-6 inches, said BJP state unit.
The party further appealed BRO to speed up the work between Purana Bazar and Padamphukri stretch of the highway and said the drainage issue should not be an excuse to delay the on-going works of resurfacing the same. The party also appealed the state authority to check the BRO while implementing works and at the same time co-ordinate with the department whenever necessary to see that quality work was maintained.