Activists of Bhartiya Jan Morcha (BJM) led by Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy on Thursday staged a dharna demanding repair as well as completion of four-laning of NH-33 between Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

The agitation which began at around 10 am continued for over 5 hours.

“The condition of NH-33 between Pardih and Baliguma has turned miserable. The potholes and damaged highway often invites road mishaps. We want immediate repair work as well as fast execution of the four-lane project,” said Roy.

The former minister and a BJP rebel also threatened to intensify agitation and hold a similar dharna before the residence of Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi after Diwali, if the 10 km stretch of NH-33 between Pardih and Baliguma is not repaired till such time and the four-lane project gets completed.

In a memorandum to the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar, also suggested sprinkling of water thrice a day on that 10 km stretch of the highway to stop blowing of dust which distracts commuters often resulting in road mishaps.

Dust blows on NH-33 at Pardih. Pic by Bhola Prasad

Last month a section of residents of Mango led by local BJP leader Vikas Singh took out a protest march demanding immediate repair on damaged stretches of NH-33.

The widening of the NH-33 linking Jamshedpur with the capital Ranchi has been severely hit by the lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic and the work to turn the stretch into a four-lane is unlikely to meet the 2020-end deadline.

As per the Union home ministry directive, infrastructure work in rural areas — NH-33 passes mostly through rural areas of East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Ranchi districts — officially began in April but the accompanying severe restrictions have put a question mark on work commencing full steam.

Notably, work on widening the NH-33, the lifeline of Ranchi and Jamshedpur had come to a halt since the middle of 2018 with private concessionaire Madhucon Projects citing financial issues. Hyderabad-based Madhucon Projects had bagged the Rs 1,479 crore contract and started work in January 2013. It was meant to complete the project by June 2016, but failed to do so.