AGARTALA/UDAIPUR, Dec 14 (TIWN): Although the double lane expansion work is carried out in full swing at Agartala – Sabroom road in different spots, but it is seen that the work is leading to massive traffic jam due to the chopping of trees.

Keeping in mind the faster conversion of NH44 into double lane, the forest department has began the work of chopping the trees on both the side of the roads for the expansion.

The 128 km long Agartala – Sabroom NH -44 will be widened in two phases. Phase-I, which is around 55 km, is Agartala – Udaipur and remaining 73 km categorized as Phase II is Udaipur – Sabroom.

It is to be mention here that huge traffic chaos was noticed on Monday at Bagma and mainly at sekerkot where chopping of trees and eviction is underway in full swing.

Land demarcation and identification survey for double laning of Udaipur-Sabroom segment in the National Highway 44 is already completed.

Expansion work gave the worst trauma to road users, for it is a Herculean task to cross the junction over the sekerkot area particularly during the peak hours due to gigantic traffic jam on Monday since morning 9.

As scores of vehicles clog the stretch at Sekerkot and several other routes, smooth movement of the traffic is highly distracted leading the common man to suffer immensely.

Resentment brewed up among the locals observing that a large number of vehicles were stuck in the carriageways hindering the movement of other vehicles.

The chopped wood log parked at the side of the road, has narrowed the space on roads that can be used by motorists and pedestrians leading to traffic chaos.

It is to be mention here that the tender for the double laning work was long back associated with the Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

The official of the state PWD department had said earlier that some of the offices of the state govt. and houses of the public would be evicted during the project work. The Ministry has sanctioned Rs.17 crore for water supply pipeline under the DWS department, while Rs. 69 crore has been sanctioned for shifting of electric posts and for land acquisition Rs. 400 crore has been sanctioned, said the official. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on June 30 laid the foundation stone for double-lane construction work of Agartala – Sabroom National Highway in presence of State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

According to the official, the Centre has already sanctioned fund to face lift the Agartala-Sabroom via Udaipur road which is tagged with NH-44. The Agartala-Sabroom road would be double lane with a width of 10-meter excluding pavement.