AGARTALA, July 23 (TIWN): A delegation of the Department of Public Works (PWD) is currently working out fund sanction and release issues with officials of the Ministry of Road and Surface Transport (MoRTH) at New Delhi. Double laning and maintenance in 104 Km of the National Highway 44 was recently handed over to the state PWD authorities from the NHAI and the Border Roads Organization (BRO), Engineer-in-Chief of Public Works Department Sunil Bhowmik said here today.Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here this evening, the official said that a team comprising of Additional Chief Engineer Sushobhan Bhattacharya and Sushanta Dutta started for New Delhi on July 21 to take up funding issues with officials of the MoRTH.

An estimate proposal for double laning and maintenance of 104 Km length from Panisagar to Mungiakami area in was sent to the ministry beforehand. Officials of the state PWD camping in New Delhi would be laying stress on maintenance of 50 Km segment in the area. “We want to repair the patch within the current financial year itself”, Bhowmik said.

He added that the Department has started small scale monsoon repair and maintenance in several patches of the NH 44 with its own initiative. “We are new in handling works in the NH 44. Our officials would be taking up the issue of estimates, tendering process following which work can be started”, the Engineer-in-Chief said.

A separate source inside the Public Works Department (PWD) today said that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been fully irresponsible in starting their maintenance works along the NH 44 despite receipt of sufficient funds months back. The first installment of Rs. 4 crore for maintenance along the Agartala-Sabroom route arrived to the local BRO authorities around 1.5 months back. Works haven’t been started yet.

Funds were released to BRO for maintenance along a 94 Km patch in the Agartala-Churaibari segment of NH 44 as well. There is no trace of work completed in the segment, the source said.