Jamshedpur: For the third time in nine months, residents along the Pardih-Baliguma stretch of NH-33 have complained of severe dust pollution and potholes.The construction of elevated corridor has turned the stretch from Hotel City Inn at Pardih to Baliguma into a dust-laden potholed zone.“The dust is affecting not only commuters but also families and traders in the area by entering into homes and shops,” said Mahesh Sonthalia, a resident and resular commuter on the stretch.Muktar Khan, who runs an automobile parts shop at Kumrum on the Dimna-Pardih road, laid the onus on the agency executing the elevated corridor project.Transport Nagar resident Sanjay Dubey said, “The stretch turns more dangerous in monsoon as commuters cannot see the potholes, increasing risk of accidents.”Jamshedpur (West) MLA Saryu Roy on Wednesday inspected the stretch. He directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project director Amit Roshan to ensure regular water sprinkling on the stretch to control dust and properly repair potholes instead of filling them with soil or loose material.NHAI officials assured him that remedial work would begin within two days. Intense heat was drying the soil quickly, while continuous traffic was worsening dust generation, they claimed.Residents had raised similar concerns in February. In April, angry locals reportedly tied construction machinery with rope and detained workers in protest.The 10.21-km Pardih-Bhilaipahari elevated four-lane corridor, costing Rs 936 crore, began in July 2022 and is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
