PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 13: It is one of the busiest National Highways of this region, VIPs including ministers often commute through it, more so it’s a lifeline connecting Jamshedpur with the state capital.
The Tata- Ranchi NH-33 which also connects two other states Odisha and West Bengal daily witnesses movement of over one lakh heavy and other vehicles.
But, for the last nine years or so the situation of this important thoroughfare especially, the stretch between Jamshedpur and Chandil, a distance of 25 Km had failed to improve.
The prevailing monsoon has made matter worse.
Though construction work is currently underway for four laning of the highway but its pace is slow.
The ultimate sufferers are the daily commuters, businessmen, and others travelling between Jamshedpur and Ranchi, a distance of around 120 Kms.
Commuters reveal that potholes, craters, and even diversions on the road invite frequent mishaps.
The safety of those using the highway is at stake.
People blame both the Union and the state governments for their callous attitude towards completing the ambitious four-lane project.
” We are simply fed up with the governments for making false promises. The NH-33 is an example of utter neglect. God knows when will the four laning project will get completed. The damaged road claimed several lives in the past few years, ” said Ramesh Agarwal, a local trader who frequently travels to Ranchi using that highway.
Sometime back activists of Bhartiya Jan Morcha (BJM) led by Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy had initiated an agitation for early completion of four laning of the NH-33 but to no avail.
Local BJP leader Vikas Singh too had initiated agitation against the poor condition of the highway stretch especially passing through Jamshedpur but things have failed to move.
” The condition of NH-33 between Pardih and Baliguma has turned miserable. The potholes and damaged highways often invite road mishaps. We want immediate repair work as well as fast execution of the four-lane project,” said a resident of Pardih.
The widening of the NH-33 between Jamshedpur and Ranchi was also affected by the lockdown for the Covid-19 induced pandemic and the work to turn the stretch into a four-lane failed to meet the 2020-end deadline.
The work on widening the NH-33, had come to a halt since the middle of 2018 with private concessionaire Madhucon Projects citing financial issues.
Work resumed last year but it’s going on at a slow pace.
Hyderabad-based Madhucon Projects had bagged the Rs 1,479 crore contract and had begun work in January 2013. It was meant to complete the project by June 2016 but failed to do so.
