Land clog stalls widening

TT, Siliguri : A potholed stretch on the Siliguri-Dhupguri highway is yet to be repaired, allegedly because of the government’s hands-off land policy.

The National Highways Authority of India is averse to taking up the repair because permission has already been given for the four-laning of NH31D, said sources.

They said the widening was being delayed as the state government had not acquired the land.

The 75km-stretch of NH31D from Siliguri to Dhupguri has been dilapidated for several months

“Once permission has been given for the widening of the two-lane road, we cannot approach the Union ministry of transport and highways for funds for the repair. We couldn’t take up the four-laning as the state government is yet to acquire the required land from people,” said an NHAI official here.

He said when the road would be widened, the entire stretch would be relaid.

“Even if the funds are allotted for the repair, the highway couldn’t be restored completely considering its condition today. So, the need of the hour is the reconstruction of NH31D, not patchwork. Since sanction has been given for the widening, we can’t take up the reconstruction of NH31D, which is two-laned now. When the widening is done, the entire road will be rebuilt,” he added.

NH31D connects Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts with the rest of the country. The highway links the region with Bhutan and Bangladesh also. The total length of NH31D is around 155km and it starts from Ghoshpukur near Siliguri and ends at Salsalabari along the Assam border.

The NHAI source said the Centre had sanctioned around Rs 900 crore last month for land acquisition and rehabilitation of those who parted with their plots. The Union government had released crores of rupees in tranches before also to acquire plots along the highway for the widening.

“The condition of the highway from Siliguri to Dhupguri had been pathetic till September last year. Later, some repairs were carried out. But recent showers have destroyed many parts of the road and there are potholes at many spots. With the onset of the monsoon just a few days away, we are apprehending that the situation will turn worse,” said Subrata Das, a schoolteacher who travels from Siliguri to Dhupguri everyday.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had cancelled a scheduled programme in Jalpaiguri on December 26 during her visit to north Bengal apparently because she wanted to avoid the potholed NH31D. Several projects in south Bengal are also affected because of the state government’s refusal to acquire land. The Katwa thermal power project being executed by the NHPC has stalled as the state is yet to acquire the additional land of about 500 acres. Another project stalled by the hands-off land policy is the widening of NH34.

R.K. Chaudhury, the project director of the NHAI, said the funds for the four-laning of NH31D had been sanctioned. “The project has been placed for financial bidding by construction firms also. But we have got only a portion of the land required for the project from the state government,” he said.

The NHAI source said only 50 per cent of the land acquisition had been completed. “Around 500 hectares are to be taken over to widen the highway. But we were handed over only 250 hectares. The state government says people are unwilling to part with plots, especially in Jalpaiguri district.”

Although travel on NH31D will be trouble-free only after the highway is completely rebuilt, north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb was still harping on about the repair. “We have come to know that the Centre has agreed to pay only Rs 45 lakh to repair NH31D. The amount is meagre, compared to the estimated cost we had sent to the Union government.” He also said the government was ready to hold meetings with NHAI officials and district magistrates to discuss the land issue.