Delayed road works cause hardship among Phaipijang residents

[caption id="attachment_282163" align="alignleft" width="300"] A stretch of the road from Phaipijang to Nagarjan powerhouse currently under construction.[/caption] Our Reporter Dimapur, Nov. 11 (EMN): A major lifeline for vehicles entering Dimapur town from NH-29 is the Darogapathar to Nagarjan powerhouse via Phaipijang road. According to information provided by the chief engineer of PWD (R&B) on February 25, a private entity under the Power Grid Corporation India Limited (PGCIL), has undertaken the repair works of a major portion of the said road. Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the contractor from PGCIL informed that the length of the road being repaired at the moment is 1.6 km, which starts from KT gas agency in Phaipijang to the powerhouse in Nagarjan. “The village members of Phaipijang approached us to take up the road contract as power grid office is also located in the same locality and it was not in a good condition,” the contractor informed. The recent repairs, which started last month, appear to be taking a long time considering the short stretch of the road. A resident of the area said that most of the roads inside the area have been blocked due to this repair works and vehicular movement has been barred, making it difficult for residents to commute. “What will happen if there is an emergency and no way to move out of the area?” the resident asked. The contractor informed that vehicular movement was stopped at certain sections, as it ensured quicker repair works on both the lanes at the same time. He further assured that road blockade would be lifted in a week. A reliable source had also informed earlier that Phaipijang village council members and some residents approached the power grid office to protest against the poor quality of the road. To this, the contractor responded that the residents of the village had approached the corporation as work had been halted. The delay, he said, was because the firm was waiting for the result of some tests, and not as claimed. “Those test reports were important, so we had to halt the repair works for some time,” he informed. The contractor has assured that by the end of the month or mid-December, the construction of the road will have been completed.