Villagers Stage Protest Over Two-Year Delay in 6.95-km Road Project in Ramgarh

Ramgarh (Gola): Frustration over the prolonged delay in the construction of a 6.95-km road connecting Bariyatu Bazar Tand, through Sadam, to Machha Tand in Gola block of Ramgarh district erupted into a protest on Thursday, with hundreds of villagers demanding immediate action.

Residents of Bariyatu, Sadam, Machha Tand and neighbouring villages, led by MLA representative Kamlesh Kumar Mahto, reached the Deputy Commissioner's office and raised slogans against the authorities. They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, seeking urgent intervention to resolve the issue. Residents of Jayantibeda also highlighted difficulties in accessing ration supplies, saying they had to travel long distances to collect them.

According to the villagers, the road construction contract was awarded to Classic Infracon Private Limited. The project was scheduled to begin on March 9, 2024, and be completed by December 8, 2024. However, despite the expiry of the deadline, construction work has not started.

MLA Mamata Devi had previously written to the concerned department and district administration regarding the delay. On October 16, 2026, she also wrote to the Chief Engineer, demanding that the contractor be blacklisted, the existing work allocation cancelled and a fresh tender issued. She further sought action against those responsible for the prolonged delay.

Following the villagers' protest, Mamata Devi reached the Deputy Commissioner's office and raised the matter with him. She also reprimanded the Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Department, alleging that negligence by officials and the contractor had forced ordinary residents to suffer.

The MLA stressed that accountability must be fixed for the delay and that construction should begin without further postponement.

As slogans continued outside the office, the Deputy Commissioner came out to meet the protesters and listened to their grievances. He assured them that the administration would take prompt steps to address their demands.

He also promised that potholes on the damaged road would be filled within the next one or two days and that efforts would be made to start the construction work soon.

The protest was attended by Amit Mahto, Manoj Pujhar, Manoj Kotwar, Santosh Soni, Sadam Panchayat Deputy Head Tulsidas Mahto, Lakeshwar Mahto, Yashoda Devi, Sheela Devi, Niranjan Sao, Ravi Munda, Chaman Mahto, Arif Ansari, Geeta Devi, Pooja Kumari, Manoj Ravidas, Chhoti Devi, Namedari Pahan, Akbar, Ghulam Sarwar, Jaleshwar Ravivar and hundreds of other villagers.

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