Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi Urges Nitin Gadkari to Fix Assam’s NH 37
New Delhi, July 24: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi met with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during the Monsoon Session in Parliament to discuss the poor condition of National Highway 37 (NH 37) in Assam.
Gogoi shared on social media that he informed Gadkari about the deteriorating state of NH 37 and the repeated failures in the tender process for the Jorhat to Jhanji portion onward to Dibrugarh. He expressed doubts about the success of the ongoing fourth round of the tender process.
In a letter dated July 24, Gogoi described NH 37 as a lifeline for Assam, now in critical condition, causing significant inconvenience to residents and commuters. He attributed the road’s wear and tear to increased traffic from commercial activities, tourism, and regular transportation.
Gogoi highlighted several problematic sections of NH 37:
- Nagaon to Jakhalabandha Section: Repeated repairs due to defective construction, with cracks and uneven surfaces appearing within a year.
- Numaligarh to Jorhat Section: Poor riding quality due to lack of proper supervision during construction.
- Jorhat to Jhanji Portion Onward to Dibrugarh: Incomplete stretch causing numerous accidents and fatalities.
Gogoi noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Teok (Jorhat) and likely saw the poor road conditions, yet no improvements have been made. He criticized the contractors for lacking financial soundness and capability, leading to prolonged delays.
Gogoi suggested constructing concrete roads instead of bituminous ones to withstand Assam’s heavy rainfall. He urged Gadkari to intervene promptly to repair the highway and ensure the timely completion of the four-lane highway for the public’s benefit.
Doubts Revealed
Congress MP -: A Congress MP is a Member of Parliament from the Congress party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
Gaurav Gogoi -: Gaurav Gogoi is a politician from Assam and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He represents the Kaliabor constituency in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of India’s Parliament.
Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is an Indian politician who is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. He is responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways in India.
National Highway 37 -: National Highway 37 (NH 37) is a major road in Assam that connects various important cities and towns. It is crucial for transportation and trade in the region.
Tender process -: The tender process is a way for the government to invite companies to bid for a project, like building or repairing a road. The best bid is usually chosen to do the work.
Jorhat to Jhanji -: Jorhat and Jhanji are places in Assam. The road between them is part of NH 37, which needs repair.
Lifeline -: A lifeline is something very important for survival or functioning. Here, NH 37 is called a lifeline because it is crucial for transportation in Assam.
Four-lane highway -: A four-lane highway is a road with two lanes for traffic in each direction. It helps in managing more vehicles and reducing traffic jams.