Itanagar, May 4:
Itanagar, May 4, 2026: The All Arunachal Pradesh Youth Organization has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding immediate action over alleged corruption and substandard construction in the NH-415 Package-B flyover project between Papu Nallah and Nirjuli. The project, valued at ₹341.71 crore, is currently under scrutiny following claims of serious structural and financial irregularities.
In a formal letter (Ref. No. AAPYO/CM-04-26 dated May 1, 2026) addressed to the PWD Minister, who also holds the portfolios of Home and Chief Vigilance, the organization accused officials of embezzlement linked to 3% agency charges received from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. AAPYO stated that despite disbursement of over 63% of the project funds (exceeding ₹214 crore), the execution has “miserably failed.”
Technical assessments conducted on February 8, 2026, using rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) tests reportedly found 31 piers and 25 girders structurally unsafe, raising serious public safety concerns.
Key Demands Raised by AAPYO
AAPYO outlined several immediate measures:
Dismantling Estimates: Submission of cost estimates for dismantling 62 compromised piers to the MoRTH Regional Office in Tezpur.
Payment Suspension: Immediate halt to all payments related to Package-B until satisfactory structural reports are produced.
Independent Probe: Constitution of a one-man inquiry committee led by a retired High Court judge to investigate PWD officials and contractors.
Blacklisting Firms: Permanent blacklisting and termination of involved firms, including M/s Woodhill-Shivam JV, M/s SPS Technocrats, and M/s AECOM, citing repeated failures in quality, drainage, and safety compliance.
Office Relocation: Shifting of the MoRTH Regional Office from Tezpur to Nirjuli to improve oversight and coordination.
The organization warned that failure to act within seven days would lead to a 36-hour capital bandh, potentially disrupting normal life in the Itanagar-Naharlagun region.
Dispute With PWD Officials
AAPYO also rejected the Minutes of Meeting (MoM) issued by Chief Engineer CS Choutang on April 24, 2026, calling it “illegal and misleading.” The group had reportedly walked out of a tripartite meeting held at the residence of the PWD Adviser, citing lack of transparency.
The organization further referred to PIL No. 11/2024, which is ongoing against the contractors, alleging continued negligence by the PWD Highway and Naharlagun divisions despite court permissions for maintenance.
Public Safety Concerns
AAPYO emphasized that the stalled and structurally compromised project poses a direct risk to commuters along NH-415. It accused authorities of failing to respond to repeated grievances, leaving the project in a deteriorating and potentially hazardous condition.
The coming week is expected to be critical, as the state government faces mounting pressure to respond to the allegations and avert possible public agitation.
