Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court lost its patience with the National Highways Authority of India on Wednesday. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh ordered top officials to explain the crumbling state of NH-6. The road remains a wreck. It connects Jowai Pass to Ratacherra.
Amicus Curiae S. Panthi inspected the 102-km stretch on July 19. He found massive potholes in Thadlaskein, Khliehriat, Um Salieh, Lumshnong, and Ratacherra. The report also identified broken bridge railings and missing drain slabs. The court noted that these failures block emergency vehicles and endanger lives.
The Bench highlighted the stalled progress of PIL No. 11/2022. Work slated for 2024 remains unfinished in 2026. Patchwork repairs vanish almost immediately. The court warned that officials will face personal consequences for any accidents, stating, "any death or injury due to the potholes would invite action on the lines of a Bombay High Court order."
NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav must appear via video conference on August 17. Guwahati Regional Officer M.L. Purbia and NHIDCL Executive Director Biju Patin must attend in person. The court demands a full account of planned disciplinary action against contractors and supervisors who wasted public funds on substandard work.
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