Residents allege irregularities in Dharmanagar–Kailashahar road repair work, seek official inquiry

Allegations of irregularities have surfaced in the ongoing maintenance work on the Dharmanagar–Kailashahar road, with local residents claiming that the project is not being executed in accordance with the approved work order. They have urged the authorities to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter.

Residents alleged that although the road repair project includes provisions for pothole filling, brick soling, drain construction, stripping, and protection works, several of these components are either incomplete or missing at various locations. They claimed that in many stretches, only brick aggregates have been laid without carrying out the remaining prescribed works.

Official records show that the maintenance contract, valued at Rs. 22.80 lakh, was awarded to contractor Narayan Nath Chowdhury, with the project scheduled to be completed within 180 days.

Despite the work being in progress, locals said the road continues to remain in poor condition. They alleged that fresh potholes have appeared at several places following recent rainfall, making travel difficult for commuters and increasing the risk of accidents. According to them, the condition of the road does not reflect the scope of work mentioned in the sanctioned project, raising concerns over the quality of execution and the utilisation of public funds.

Residents also questioned the level of supervision by the Public Works Department (PWD). They claimed that officials responsible for monitoring the project, including engineers and the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), have not been conducting regular site inspections. They argued that effective supervision could have ensured better quality control during the execution of the project.

Demanding immediate action, the residents have called for a joint site inspection, a technical assessment of the work, and an independent inquiry into the alleged lapses. They have also requested the PWD's higher authorities to withhold payment to the contractor until the quality and quantity of the completed work are verified.

When contacted, neither contractor Narayan Nath Chowdhury nor officials of the Public Works Department had issued any official statement regarding the allegations at the time of filing this report.