A group of policemen and civic volunteers in Malda town on Monday took up the task of filling craters along a 10-km-long stretch on a state highway that connects the district headquarters to Manikchak block.

The initiative, however, brought under scanner the role of the state PWD that is tasked with maintaining the highway.

Policemen, including officers posted at Milki police outpost in Malda, along with volunteers, hit the highway with bricks, mortar and tools. They stopped at regular intervals, unloaded bricks and mortar, and filled potholes and craters that had come up on the highway these past few months.

“The highway is at its worst now and minor accidents occur daily. Light vehicles such as two- and three-wheelers often lose balance and flip on one side or turn turtle after hitting the craters. The road is unsafe even for mid-sized vehicles,” said Badal Sheikh, a Milki resident.

The highway, sources said, is 30km long, of which a stretch of 20km — between Amrity and Manikchak — is in bad shape.

As policemen filled craters, they drew praise from traders and residents, and some volunteered to join the cops.

Mohammed Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of the outpost, explained their initiative. “Whenever a road accident takes place, it is our responsibility to see to it that the injured get primary treatment and that they are sent to hospitals. These days, minor accidents have become common along the highway. That’s why I took up the matter with my colleagues at the outpost and decided on primary repairs of one stretch at least so that the number of accidents falls,” he said. “Seeing us, some residents also joined us,” he added.

Alok Rajoria, the district police chief, praised the policemen and volunteers. “We believe the road will be thoroughly repaired in due course, but what our men did on an emergency basis is laudable,” he said.

Senior engineers posted at the state PWD (roads) department in Malda, when told about the initiative, refused to comment officially. “The work of repairing the state highway has already started from the Manikchak side,” said a PWD engineer who refused to be named . “It is our onus and proper repairs will be done soon.”