Potholes, cracks dot Senapati sector of NH-2
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, July 25 2021: The National Highway-2 which was blacktopped about a year ago is now in a dilapidated condition with many potholes and cracks along the stretch between Mao and Tadubi under Senapati district.

During an inspection, it was found that the highway was on the verge of collapse if the authority concerned were not to take immediate action for redressing the deteriorating condition of the road caused by landslides at different locations along the stretch.

Nearby residents told this correspondent that the whole of highway could have been washed away had it rained continuously for 2-3 days.

The sinking portions are said to have caused erosion due to filling up of sand without any retaining wall along the route.

The portion at Mao Gate, near Mao Police Station, is considered the worst with some buildings sunken and below Tadubi at a place called Vanee, some 2 km away from Tadubi Police Station with about 200 metres sunken and the side of the road has been washed away.

Heavy loaded trucks are at high risk of getting stuck along the route and causing traffic jams at times when nobody dares to travel along the sunken portion of the highway.

In this regard, Mao Students' Union has expressed its dissatisfaction with the executing agency (BIPL) and the PWD over the non construction of retaining wall and requisite culvert along the portion of sinking zone of the highway, especially between Maram and Mao Gate.

The students' body mentioned that the executing agency failed to take cognizance of sinking zones along the said stretch of road and carried out substandard work.

Several appeals and discussions had reportedly taken place with the involvement of Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), Mao Students' Union and contractors of BIPL in the past but the blame was always shifted to the report of soil testing by the PWD, which, they said, was the cause of delay in constructing retaining walls and culverts.

Some constructed retaining walls are also reported lacking quality which now needs repairing.

Earlier, Mao Students' Union had submitted a written application to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) to intervene in the matter but there is no response from the MORTH yet.

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