It would take atleast 3 to 4 years for the completion of the Mahasadak: Sushmita Dev

way2barak, Nov.6: On Sunday, Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev visited the ‘Mahasadak’ (the East- West Corridor), being executed by NHIDCL between Balacherra & Harangajhao. “It’s quite a challenge given the terrain & weather. Will visit the section under NHAI next. Will raise the problems this project is facing in Rajya Sabha,” stated MP Dev after her visit to this stretch of the dream project of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Expressing her views, MP Dev said, “This is a long pending project. We have waiting for its completion since 1998. BJP has politicised this election after election. But today the reality is that this project is likely to take another three to four years. There are two agencies working here: NHIDCL and NHAI. The contract and the tender that itself is being given for the part between Harangajao and Haflong is itself for three years. So there is no question of this project being completed before 3 years. So I think politicians should refrain from coming here and declaring deadlines! I think that is just for taking credit and such politics is totally unnecessary as this is a difficult terrain.”

 When asked about meeting Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari during his forthcoming visit to Assam, MP Dev said, “I would meet Nitin Gadkari ji during the next Parliament session. But I wish, Gadkari ji would come to Barak Valley rather than Guwahati. He should come and see the East- West Corridor, one of the biggest projects of India. But I will definitely tell him to rethink the decision of using two separate agencies used for the construction of this road. I think we lost out because of that decision.”

Taking a dig at the ruling BJP, Sushmita Dev said, “I want to tell the ruling party that they made the Mahasadak such a big issue, as if, nobody wanted to do it except them. Today there has been a double engine government for so long. So why they were not able to do it. This is the basic question that needs to be answered by BJP. I would have been happy if the statue of Vajpayee ji would be installed after the completion of the Mahasadak.”

Made a site visit to review the work of Mahasarak being executed by NHIDCL between Balacherra & Harangajhao.

It’s quite a challenge given the terrain & weather.

Will visit the section under NHAI next. Will raise the problems this project is facing in Rajya Sabha. #Silchar pic.twitter.com/Ou9D7dsvK7

— Sushmita Dev সুস্মিতা দেব (@SushmitaDevAITC) November 6, 2022

Infact, in December 2021, Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy while interacting with the newsmen said, “Actually, we have not missed the deadline. The deadline had already been extended from March 2022 to March 2023. So we are hopeful that by this deadline, we will be able to make this road motorable.”

The Balacherra- Harangajao portion of the East-West Corridor is made up of a total of 25.25 km. Of this stretch, 22.05 km falls in Cachar district. The Barail Reserve Forest also falls in this portion. The remaining stretch of 3.20 km falls in Dima Hasao.