Arunachal Pradesh: Villagers building alternative road as Pasighat-Pangin remains disrupted

ITANAGAR: Villagers of Rottung village in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh have started constructing an alternative road as Pasighat-Pangin road continues to remain disrupted after a portion of the road near Rottung (at 36.200 km) in East Siang district was washed away.

The collapsing of Sanggam bridge over the Siyom river, between Pangin and Boleng towns added to the misery.

The district administration has issued a travel advisory, asking people to refrain from taking the route.

Engineers of the Pasighat highway division informed that restoration works would take at least 15-20 days.

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Though the department has engaged manpower and machineries, not much progess has been seen so far.

Left with no option, the villagers have begun working on a 3-km-long footpath on the rocky hill beside the breached portion to reach Pasighat and other places along the route.

B.Sutar, Junior Engineer of PWD (Highway) Pangin Sub-division informed that the survey for the alternative road was done the very next day after the portion got washed away.

He informed that formation cutting will take around 10 to 15 days to complete the 3.2 km road stretch from Damuk WRC Area to 20 Mile.

The restoration works for the old road (highway portion) will be started soon after the weather get clear, he added.

Kebang block ZPM Topi Jerang took stock of the construction site requested the highway department to construct the road on war footing as most of the commuters are facing numerous problem due to road blockade.

Tajir Siram, youth leader urged the state government to construct permanent road from Rottung to 20 mile.

He added that the present road portion is not safe for future and difficult to clear the debris.

He assured that the villagers shall render their full support to the department in making the road successful.

Former Rottung ASM Tageng Taki said the said stretch of road shall also facilitate the villagers in carrying out agriculture and horticulture activities

The Pasighat-Pangin highway is a vital lifeline for Siang, West Siang and Shi-Yomi districts and parts of Upper Siang connecting International border China.

Also, essential commodities including food, medicines, building materials etc are transported to these areas through this route.

The current situation has instilled fear among the locals who are now worried about food and fuel crisis. They have demanded the authority to ensure early restoration of the Pasighat-Pangin-Boleng road by using better technology.

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