anurag-slams-nhai-officials-for-irresponsible-nh-3-work

Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur lashed out at officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways over the careless and unsafe construction of the NH-3 stretch passing through Hamirpur to Mandi.

 

During his visit to the flood-affected areas of Dharampur, local residents complained to him about how the irresponsible behavior and work of the highway construction company has been putting lives at risk.

 

Anurag told the officials of the highway companies, “Either you’re not capable of doing the work, or you’re protecting the contractors for their misdeeds.”

 

Despite attempts by the officials concerned to justify the work, they failed to explain why vertical hill cutting was allowed, which led to massive landslides and damaged multiple levels of the terrain. Hills in the state have been ruthlessly being cute in the violation of technical and scientific norms.

 

Pointing out how one faulty step had triggered further destruction, Anurag told NHAI officials present at the site that hills which were cut vertical had not only damaged one step but had slid to the last point and damaged step two and three as well.

 

A viral video from the spot shows an official trying to shift the blame onto a former Project Director, but Anurag shut him down, questioning how the department couldn’t build even a single retaining wall in over a year.

 

He asked the official how the NHAI or the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways would finish the highway work in the given time.

 

Out of 22 km of road in Dharampur, hill cutting has been done for 15 km — but only 7 km of actual road has been laid so far. Locals shared their frustration, saying that no one, not the contractor, not NHAI, or ministry officials, listen to their problems.

 

Anurag demanded that protection walls be built immediately and compensation be given to affected families at the earliest. He said people shouldn't be forced to live under the shadow of another disaster. Many residents have lost the paths to their homes, and cracks are now appearing in their houses due to the execution of the work in an irresponsible manner.

 

He directed officials to act quickly and assured villagers that their grievances would be addressed on priority and he would raise the issue directly with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.