Condition of NH-28 hampering relief to Nepal; repair work

The National Highway Authorities of India has undertaken the repair work of the dilapidated National Highway-28 between Motihari and Raxaul, bordering Nepal, on a war-footing.
NHAI Project Manager Shamim Ahmed said today, "We have started the construction of four-lane roads between Piprakothi to Raxaul (in East Champaran district) to make this stretch motorable for the vehicles carryig relief supplies and others bringing back stranded people from Nepal.
The damaged portion of the highway was proving to be a hindrance for relief supplies and swift evacuation of stranded Indian nationals in the quake-ravaged country.
The condition of the 72 km-long road under the NHAI's jurisdction came under scanner after a number of central ministers and state government officials rushed to the border town of Raxaul to monitor the rescue and relief work for the quake victims in Bihar and Nepal.

Apalled by the poor state of NH-28, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, to intervene in the matter.
"The NH-28 will be made motorable soon for expeditious movement of vehicles carrying relief supplies and bringing back stranded people from Nepal," Pradhan told reporters recently.

The relief vehicles are moving fast on the NH-28 now, Ahmed claimed.
NHAI Chief General Manager Atul Kumar, posted in Delhi, was personally overseeing construction and repair of the NH-28, Ahmed said.
Ahmed conceded that construction of NH-28 got delayed due to technical reasons and certain problems that had dogged a construction company which was awarded the tender for this work. But all those problems have been sorted out and the work will be completed by March 2016 deadline.

Echoing the NHAI official's claim, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal, who represents Betiah Lok Sabha seat, said that the exercise to make NH-28 motorable between Piprakothi and Raxaul has begun in right earnest with top NHAI officials showing right intention to complete the task this time.