KHOTANG, June 11: With the onset of monsoon, a section of Diktel-Hurlung road of the Mid-hills Highway has been left muddy after the contractor delayed in blacktopping the road.
Representatives of Lama-Nagarjun-Trishuli Joint Venture (JV), the firm awarded with the contract for blacktopping the Diktel-Hurlung road section, had promised to complete the work before the start of the monsoon season during an all-party meeting at the District Administration Office on May 16.
General Secretary of Khotang Transport Entrepreneurs Association Ram Kumar Hingmang said that commuters have started facing problems since the vehicles are prone to get stuck in the muddy roads.
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“Travelers are dismayed by the pathetic condition of the road,” he said, adding, “The contractors need to act fast.”
Even the pedestrians in the road section are facing problems due to the delay in gravelling and blacktopping the road. Their feet get stuck in the mud even if they walk on the sidewalks of the road. On top of that, they get splashed with the muddy water by the passing vehicles.
Locals complained that they have problems in walking on roads even in Diktel Bazaar if it rains for few days. Pedestrians of areas including Ratna Park, Old Base Camp, Sangam Park, Bhanu Chowk of the district have been suffering the most due to the delay in gravelling roads.
Most of the roads seem like agricultural land ready for planting rice. Although four-wheelers face minimal problem in the road section, two-wheelers get stuck in the mud.
Locals say that it takes twice the usual time to travel through the roads due to the bad condition of the roads. They also claimed that even though the materials needed for gravelling have already been collected by the construction company, the company has not started the gravelling process.
