An under-construction highway in Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district has come under scrutiny after several newly built culverts along the route were reportedly damaged or destroyed.
The road is being developed to connect Naharlagun through Durpang village towards the Chessa River, Chengmara and Kokila areas near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary, while also providing connectivity to Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi.
Local residents alleged that several culverts had suffered extensive damage despite the project remaining under construction, raising concerns over construction quality and supervision.
The reported damage has also raised questions over the role of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the contractors executing the project. Allegations have emerged that poor construction quality and inadequate monitoring may have contributed to the failure of the structures.
The damaged culverts have reportedly affected movement along parts of the highway, which is considered important for connectivity between Naharlagun, the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and Hollongi.
Residents and road users have called for a technical assessment of the affected structures to verify construction standards, material quality and compliance with approved specifications. They have also sought corrective measures before further work proceeds on the affected sections.
A technical inspection by the competent authorities could establish the reasons for the reported failures and determine responsibility, if any.
