NH-43 IN A MISERABLE STATE

  

Jeypore : A construction site on Jeypore-Koraput Ghat Road

(Photo - Sourabha Kumar Turuk)

KORAPUT: Jeypore over the years has developed as a hub for trade and commerce in Koraput District, but the only stretch of road connecting Jeypore and Koraput is in a sorry state. More than 5 lakh vehicles on an average ply through this stretch every month and the number keeps increasing. What is worrisome though is the apathetic attitude of the government and district administration regarding its upkeep and maintenance. Jeypore Ghat is only 22kms in length and is a part of NH – 43 which connects Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh with Raipur in Chattisgarh.

Civil society group in Koraput have been demanding that the road be renovated immediately so as to reduce the number of road accidents in this killer stretch, but to no avail. Very recently temporary repair works were carried out, but the first downpour of rain washed away everything showing the shoddy state of affairs. The road is full of potholes which is a big inconvenience to the commuters. 

Not just the stretch between Koraput and Jeypore, the NH connecting Koraput with Sunabeda and Semiliguda is also in a dilapidated condition. Temporary repair works are carried on a regular basis but it’s just an eyewash.

Jeypore : A turning point on Jeypore-Koraput Ghati Road

(Photo - Sourabha Kumar Turuk)

The latest information from the National Highways Department of Sunabeda-1 reveals that the state government has received funds to the tune of Rs 7 crore for the maintenance and upkeep of this stretch of road. Four official agreements have also been made for this purpose out of which three agreements have already been completed and the last one was started on 7^th July, 2010. Their target was to complete the project within one year. But till date, no improvement seems to have been made.

The Andhra Pradesh stretch of NH-43 is well maintained, then why is the stretch in Orissa in this plight? Can the state government be blamed for its lackadaisical attitude?

(Mandakini Maharana is a graduate in Arts, has passed out from IGNOU, Political Science as major. She has cleared basics in computer and typing with good communication skills in Oriya, Hindi and English. She loves watching movies of  diffrent genres and listening to music is her favourite past time).