Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, 27 Aug: The Hoj-Potin stretch of National Highway 13 has been restored and opened for vehicular movement, nearly two months after a portion of the road was washed away at the waterfall area near Hoj during the devastating floods on 25 June.

However, traffic on the restored stretch remains subject to restrictions, with heavy motor vehicles barred from using the road until further orders.

According to a travel advisory issued by the office of the additional district magistrate, Sagalee, Papum Pare district, on 27 August, further pavement and landslide-clearance works are still being carried out along the Hoj-Potin road.

The advisory stated that PQC and CC pavement work at the waterfall area (chainage 39.00 km), besides landslide-clearance works at various locations, is ongoing. In view of the continuing works, vehicular movement has been regulated, with two-wheelers and light motor vehicles (LMVs) to be permitted from 12 noon on 29 August, while the movement of heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will remain strictly restricted until further orders.

Commuters have been advised to use alternative routes, including the Kimin-Potin, Sagalee-Parang-Silsango-Mengio and Toru-Ompuli-Pitapool, during the period of restriction.

The restoration work was executed by M/s Nabam Tullon LLP, which completed the work ahead of the stipulated deadline. The company's managing director, Nabam Tullon, said vehicular movement on the restored stretch had been unofficially opened from 25 August.

Tullon said the company deployed substantial manpower and machinery to complete the restoration within a month. Ten dumpers, six excavators and two rock breakers were pressed into service during the restoration work, while the company's vice president, project manager, two deputy project managers and four senior supervisors were deployed round the clock.

The restoration work commenced on 1 August, following the diversion of traffic via the Kimin-Potin road after the NH 13 stretch was washed away in the June floods. The disruption had affected connectivity to several districts, including Keyi Panyor, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle and Upper Subansiri.