The Banderdewa-Naharlagun highway project has become a symbol of governance failure, raising questions about public accountability and the use of taxpayer money.
Itanagar, India Jul 25, 2026 ALN: [ Bompa Lomdak ]
The Banderdewa-Naharlagun highway is no longer merely an unfinished project – it is a test of governance, accountability, and the rule of law.
A government road is not merely a strip of asphalt connecting two destinations. It is a public trust created with taxpayers’ money and held by the state in a fiduciary capacity. When that trust is breached through unexplained delays, administrative inertia, or financial opacity, the issue transcends engineering - it enters the realm of constitutional governance.
The Banderdewa-Naharlagun four-lane highway, once hailed as the gateway to the twin capital, has regrettably become an enduring symbol of institutional failure. What was conceived as an artery of development now resembles an endless construction corridor, where dust, potholes, congestion, and uncertainty have become the daily companions of thousands of citizens.
This is no longer merely a delayed infrastructure project. It is a matter of public accountability.
The project was tendered in 2021 and awarded to Woodhill-Shivam and TK Consortium, with the work order reportedly issued on December 8, 2021. The original completion schedule envisaged delivery by December 2023. That deadline came and went.
The project period was subsequently extended until 2026, yet reports now indicate that the work has been suspended altogether. Approximately 51% of the physical work is stated to have been completed, while a substantial portion of the project remains unfinished.
Such facts warrant careful and scrupulous examination by the competent authorities.
Infrastructure projects are not governed merely by contracts; they are governed by principles of public law, administrative fairness, and constitutional accountability.
The financial trajectory of the project warrants immediate public scrutiny. The project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 341.43 crore, of which approximately Rs 127.28 crore (37.25%) has reportedly already been disbursed, while nearly Rs 214.15 crore remains unreleased. Yet, despite substantial public expenditure, only about 51% of the physical work has reportedly been executed.
This glaring disparity raises questions that the State is legally and morally obligated to answer. Was the release of public funds commensurate with the actual physical progress certified on site? Were payments authorised only after due verification in accordance with the contractual terms and the general financial rules (GFR)? What legal or contractual contingencies led to the suspension of the work? Has responsibility been fixed for the delay, or has administrative accountability been conveniently deferred?
These are neither rhetorical nor political questions. They arise from the constitutional principles of transparency, fiscal prudence, and public accountability that govern every expenditure from the consolidated fund. In a constitutional democracy, every rupee of taxpayers’ money is held by the state in trust. Consequently, any unexplained delay, financial opacity, or administrative lapse invites legitimate public scrutiny and, where warranted, judicial review.
The Supreme Court has consistently expanded the scope of Article 21 of the Constitution, and in its recent jurisprudence has recognised that the right to safe roads forms an integral part of the Right to Life. When citizens are compelled to travel daily on hazardous roads marked by unfinished construction, dust pollution, traffic bottlenecks, and accident-prone conditions, the issue ceases to be one of administrative delay and becomes a constitutional concern. Every citizen possesses the locus standi to question such executive inaction, particularly where public interest is directly affected. If the present state of affairs continues, the day may not be far when the Gauhati High Court (Itanagar Permanent Bench) is inundated with public interest litigations (PILs) concerning the Naharlagun highway, further burdening an already overburdened judiciary. Such avoidable litigation can only be prevented through timely, transparent, and legally accountable governance.
At this juncture, the government owes the people more than assurances; it owes them complete transparency. The public is entitled to know the present contractual status of the project, the precise reasons for its suspension, the utilisation of funds already released, independently verified physical progress, the responsibility fixed upon erring officials or contractors, and a definitive timeline for completion.
In matters involving public funds, opacity is antithetical to good governance. Transparency is not merely an administrative virtue – it is a constitutional imperative that strengthens public confidence and reinforces the rule of law.
The Banderdewa-Naharlagun highway has ceased to be merely an infrastructure project; it has become a litmus test of constitutional governance. Development cannot be measured by the number of projects sanctioned, foundation stones laid, or funds allocated, but by timely execution and tangible public benefit. The citizens are not seeking benevolence from the state – they are asserting rights guaranteed under the Constitution: transparent governance, prudent utilisation of public money, and safe public infrastructure. The rule of law demands that every public authority discharge its statutory duties scrupulously, fairly, and within the bounds of its legal mandate.
The road to Naharlagun must not remain a road to eternity. It is time for constitutional accountability to overtake bureaucratic inertia.
With the earlier tender having been cancelled, the government must ensure that the re-tendering process is completed without any further administrative delay. First, the fresh tender should be awarded through a fair, competitive, and time-bound process to a technically and financially competent agency with a proven track record in executing major infrastructure projects. Secondly, until construction recommences, the existing 11.5-kilometre stretch must be maintained on priority to minimise accidents and ensure safe passage for commuters. Finally, the new contract should incorporate strict timelines, independent third-party quality monitoring, and robust penalty clauses to ensure that this vital highway is completed without further extensions or avoidable delays.
Every day lost in administrative procedures is another day of inconvenience, risk, and economic loss for the people. The road has waited long enough; the re-tendering process must not become another road to eternity. (The contributor is a resident of Naharlagun)
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