Local resident of Bekarbandh, Babudih, Nawadih etc facing difficulties due to undue delay in broadening and strengthening of the 2.4 km road between Bekar Bandh to Vinod Bihari Chowk, staged a massive demonstration near Babudih Khatal Pulia on Tuesday at around 5 pm.

The protesters charged the contractor engaged in road broadening work of flouting all norms and causing delay in construction work and demanded the road construction department to put pressure on the contractor to ensure early completion of work.

Notably, the 2.4 km road which connects Dhanbad town with other parts of the district, including, Bhuli, Katras, Wasseypur, Baghmara and Hirak Road is quite crucial as it also serves as an alternative to the main road connecting Dhanbad to Katras.

As per the work allotment for renovation cum broadening and strengthening work three cross drains are also to be constructed on the road besides the black topping and broadening and strengthening.

The broadening and strengthening of the road was planned as the road was lying in extremely dilapidated condition due to development of large number of potholes and also faced perennial water logging due to lack of cross drains.

Talking to media at the demonstration site, Sashi Pandey, a local resident who is also the founder of the social organization, Udbhav Ek Nai Soch said, “The broadening and strengthening work of the road which began on January 27 this year was scheduled to be completed on February 10 but the work is yet to completed two month after the scheduled time due to the inefficiency of contractors which is giving new dates again and again for work completion but failing to meet the deadline every time”.

“The local residents here are facing a lot of problem as due to delay in construction of road even the schools buses and schools vans could not reach upto our house and we have to travel more than 500 metre to a lm on foot to reach upto the school buses which make stoppage on the main road” charged Pandey.

“Such is the situation of the road that even ambulance could not reach upto our house due to digging here and there and heaps of soil and other construction materials like stone chips, sand etc lying at several places on road” further said Jyoti Rai another local resident.

The protesters were also holding the placards bearing slogans like, Sabra ka bandh mat todo;mahino ke letatifi band; manmani ab nahi chalegi; nirman karya jald pura karo etc.