HC asks contractor to deploy more men to repair Mizoram highway

Aizawl: The Gauhati High Court has directed Haryana-based contractor J Infratech Limited to increase manpower and machinery for ongoing repair works on key stretches of the Aizawl-Silchar Highway, described as “Mizoram’s lifeline”.A two-judge bench of Justice Budi Habung and Justice Kaushik Goswami issued the order on Wednesday while hearing matters related to the repair of the Sairang Zero Point to Buichali Bridge, New Khamrang to Kawnpui, and Kolasib to Bilkhawthlir stretches.The bench said, “In compliance of this court’s order dated 04.02.2026, the respondent Page No. 4/5 No. 12 (J. Infratech Ltd.) has filed an additional affidavit showing some physical progress of the works with some increase in percentage of work being carried out over the period of almost two months since the last report.”

Appearing for the contractor, counsel Anil Kumar told the court that J Infratech had mobilised manpower and construction machinery at both project sites, “substantially more with respect to the contractual provisions.” He also submitted that efforts were being made to speed up execution and complete the project stretches at the earliest.But counsel for the petitioner, the Mizoram Truck Drivers Association, said the condition on the ground remained poor.

Emily L Chhangte told the court that after visiting the site and carrying out a spot verification, she found the road construction was still in a dilapidated state. She warned that if further work was not taken up urgently, the road condition would worsen with the onset of the monsoon. She sought a week’s time to file a status report.The judges expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work, noting that the target was to complete the stretches by April 2026 and that the monsoon season was approaching.The bench said, “Unless the manpower and machineries are increased during this working season, with the onset of the monsoon the road condition will worsen. However, since the petitioner is seeking time to file status report, we grant her one week time to file necessary affidavit.”It then directed the contractor to step up deployment immediately. “In the meantime, we direct the respondent No. 12 to increase the manpower and machinery as may be required to complete the stretches of work on time. In this regard, the respondent No. 12 shall file an affidavit by 24th of March, 2026 showing the steps taken by them for increasing the manpower and machineries, failing which the concerned officer may have to be personally present on the next date,” the bench ruled.The next hearing has been fixed for March 25.