Koraput: Commuters travelling on the nearly 30-km stretch between Pottangi and Sunki of National Highway 26 on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border are facing a harrowing journey as potholes, damaged patches and waterlogged craters continue to pose a serious safety risk.The NH-26 corridor, which links Chhattisgarh with Visakhapatnam port through Koraput, is one of the busiest interstate highways in the region. Every day, hundreds of heavy trucks, passenger buses and private vehicles use the route, but the rain-soaked stretch has become increasingly hazardous, with motorists forced to navigate deep potholes hidden beneath stagnant rainwater.“The NH-26 stretch in Andhra Pradesh is smooth and well-maintained. It is only after entering Sunki in Koraput that commuters are forced to negotiate crater-like potholes. The condition of the road raises serious concerns,” alleged Ajit Patra, a Koraput-based activist.“The road has become a death trap during monsoon. Water-filled potholes can trigger fatal accidents at any moment, but despite repeated complaints there has been no permanent repair. Heavy trucks carrying industrial cargo struggle to negotiate the damaged stretch, while smaller vehicles often get trapped in the potholes,” he added.Besides serving as a vital freight corridor for industries transporting cargo to Visakhapatnam port, NH-26 is also the main approach road to several popular tourist destinations, including Deomali in Koraput, which attracts thousands of visitors annually.Commuters said the worst-hit portions are located between Pottangi and the Andhra Pradesh border, particularly near Kunduli Gurukul Ashram, Padalaguda Chhak, Jodimadeli Ghat and Sunki village. Continuous rainfall has submerged large potholes, making it nearly impossible for motorists to judge their depth and significantly increasing the risk of accidents.Residents alleged that the road deteriorated after culvert works undertaken at several locations were left without proper restoration of the carriageway. They claimed that the damaged sections are repeatedly patched with stone chips, but the temporary repairs are washed away after every spell of rain, leaving the highway riddled with fresh craters.Locals have urged the authorities to immediately repair the damaged stretches, expedite the pending road-widening work, improve drainage to prevent waterlogging and conduct a quality audit of the project.Responding to the allegations, Soumajani Sethi, superintending engineer of the NH (Suabeda) division, said the contractor that executed the widening work in 2023 was contractually responsible for maintaining the road till 2028 but had failed to undertake maintenance this year.“We have imposed a penalty on the construction company for failing to maintain the road as per the agreement. A fresh tender has already been floated for repair work and will be finalised soon. As an emergency measure, we have laid wet mix macadam (WMM) on the damaged stretches to improve traffic movement,” Sethi said.toikoraput@gmail.com
Vehicles negotiate a cratered stretch on NH-26
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