Milestones are meant to be durable, weather-resistant, and long-lasting, as they remain exposed to rain, heat, and constant roadside impact. Standard construction norms require proper reinforcement to ensure strength. Replacing iron rods with bamboo is not a cost-cutting innovation or a local adjustment - it is a direct violation of basic construction standards.
Such practices raise serious concerns:
Public money misuse, where cheaper materials are used despite sanctioned budgets
Lack of inspection and monitoring by responsible authorities
Normalisation of substandard work, even on a National Highway
Erosion of public trust, when even milestones fail basic quality checks
If bamboo can replace iron rods in something as visible as a milestone, one can only imagine the condition of less visible structures. What was supposed to guide travellers by distance now points directly toward systemic corruption and negligence in infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh.
