Speed Post News Network
Nawada: Hundreds of craters can be seen on the 36 km stretch on NH 31 between Nawada and Rajauli, the gateway to Jharkhand from Bihar and vice-versa. An NRI Shashi Shekhar Singh, a native of Rajauli but settled in Ohio (USA) with Lynne Hewitt, his American wife for three decades, who had come down to Rajauli to attend marriage of one of his relatives last week, informed that he never imagined that such a ‘road’ could exist in Narendra Modi’s India. “Wonder why no one has sued the government,” Lynne concluded adding that it was their last visit.
This particular stretch, which by a four wheeler took only 30 to 35 minute to cover nearly two years ago, now takes nothing less than 90 minutes and has become a nightmarish experience for commuters due to the extremely wrecked condition. Number of broken down trucks, buses as well as other nature of four wheelers, can be seen stranded any day. Commuters, travelling between Jharkhand and Bihar, either prefer to travel by train or take a 60 km detour via Hisua-Narhat-Sirdalla-Rajauli road.
Nawada BJP MP and union minister Giriraj Singh, although aware of the problem, has not done anything so far, said Arvind Kumar, executive engineer, Nawada road construction department (RCD). He lamented that although the hingwork does not fall dounder his department, he has to undergo the harrowing experience of travelling on this road to reach and review road conditions under his department under Govindpur, Rajauli blocks. He wished that Giriraj, being a Union minister and Nawada MP, could act as a catalyst by bringing the matter to the notice of Nitin Gadkari, the Union cabinet minister for roads.
Imitiaz Ahmad, the executive engineer of the National Highway of the Biharsharif division, under whose jurisdiction the road lies, said “The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had entrusted the work of four-railing this stretch to the state Road construction department. A tender was also floated to this effect. But later, the RCD, for unknown reasons, withdrew from executing the work forcing the NHAI to undertake the work.” He, however, added that filling of potholes would commence shortly and even four-railing project would be undertaken in the coming months and that necessary machinery and equipment to fill the potholes have already been dispatched.