The residents of Dhanbad, including outgoing mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal, are unhappy over the suspension of the construction of a 20km eight-lane road by the State Highway Authority of Jharkhand.

The construction was suspended on June 19, according to a state government order, to review the situation in view of financial constraints amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The residents said as a result of the earth work around the road, large ditches have formed. These pose a risk to vehicles plying on the road, which serves as a bypass for Dhanbad.

Various long-distance heavy vehicles also pass this route.

Dhanbad mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal, said, “The decision to suspend the construction work is beyond any comprehension. The same government, after a relaxation provided by the Union ministry of home affairs on April 20, allowed the resumption of construction to ensure job opportunities for the labourers.”

The project, funded by the World Bank, is crucial for the development of the state.

“We are waiting for the review of the government. I will ask the chief minister to resume construction work,” said Agarwal.

He said around Rs 216 crore of the total sanctioned Rs 416 crore has already been released.

Project in-charge of State Highway Authority of Jharkhand (SHAJ), M.K. Verma said, “So far around 15 per cent of the work has already been completed. Construction on the Kakomath side and Gol building side was under progress when the work was suspended.”

“We are awaiting for the government nod to resume work as the road is open at various places, posing a risk of accidents,” Verma added.

The construction of the eight-lane road is being carried out in two parts.

The 11.70km road from Kako Math in Katras to Binod Bihari Mahto Chowk in Dhanbad is being constructed by Tribeni Construction Ltd, of Guwahati in Assam and the remaining 8.3km from Binod Bihari Chowk to Gol Building Dhanbad is being constructed by Shivalaya Construction Pvt Ltd.