Chief minister Raghubar Das has speeded up the process of initiating a concrete road in Sukurhuttu, Kanke, where he faced public wrath and slogans of “no road, no vote” when he went to campaign in April for the BJP for the general elections, to reverse anti-incumbency sentiments before the Assembly polls later this year.
The rural development department on Wednesday floated a tender for the construction of a 5.5km concrete road worth Rs 6.2 crore. By July 9, interested parties can submit tenders. Work has to be completed within 18 months from the issuing of the work order.
Sukurhuttu, barely 10km from the chief minister’s official Kanke residence, comes under Kanke Assembly seat represented by BJP’s Jitu Charan Ram.
With state elections later this year, the government seems to have hastened the process of road construction to do some damage control, a resident said. “Kanke has been a BJP stronghold but the protest at Sukurhuttu has had the BJP worried.
The CM personally had to hear ‘no road, no vote’ slogans here on April 21 when he came for a roadshow. People even refused to take part in the CM’s roadshow. The CM had sensed that the public outrage was real,” the resident said.
Avinash Mishra, another Kanke resident, added that youths here had mobilised public opinion to get the road built and even carried an online campaign.
A government official said the CM had assured Sukurhuttu residents that right after parliamentary elections, the government would start the process to build a concrete road. “Right after the model code of conduct was lifted, the CM held meeting with officials of the rural development department, directing them to prepare a detailed project report. The CM is personally monitoring the entire matter,” said an official of the state government.
MLA Ram confirmed the development. “Last evening (Wednesday), an order in this regard had been released. Under the plan, the 5.5km road from Kanke Chowk to ITBP via Sukurhutu will be built along with proper drainage, because a road floods without a drain. A part of the existing road, which is one of the important connectors in Kanke area, has been encroached for years. We have promised residents that they’ll get a good road,” he said.