Dhanbad: BJP MLA Raj Sinha on Sunday ended his 24-hour hunger strike after the district administration assured action on restoration of the crucial Dhanbad-Ranchi main road, which has remained closed since April 15 following land subsidence and toxic gas leakage near Kenduadih.
Assurance from Administration
Sinha broke his fast after receiving assurance from the Dhanbad deputy commissioner. According to the administration, a meeting with scientists and technical experts will be held on Monday to discuss the safety, condition and restoration of the damaged stretch. The meeting is expected to deliberate on technical aspects related to subsidence, toxic gas leakage and measures required to safely resume traffic movement.
MLA's Demand for Early Reopening
The MLA had launched the hunger strike demanding early reopening of the road, saying the prolonged closure had caused immense hardship to the public. He said connectivity between Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ranchi and Jamshedpur had been badly affected.
Delay in Technical Reports
Sinha also questioned the delay in submission of technical reports by agencies including Bharat Coking Coal Limited, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research. He alleged that more than three weeks had passed since the incident, yet no concrete technical report had been made available.
“What kind of investigation is being conducted if reports are still pending after such a long time?” the MLA asked, expressing concern over what he termed administrative apathy and lack of urgency from both the district administration and BCCL management.
Safety Concerns on Diversion Route
He also raised concerns over the safety of the diversion route, saying heavy traffic movement there posed a serious accident risk. Sinha said he observed vehicles moving dangerously at night and later spoke to the Dhanbad SSP, urging police to ensure adequate safety measures.
Impact of Road Closure
The road reportedly sank by nearly two feet, forcing barricading and diversion of traffic. With the route serving as a vital link to major Jharkhand cities, congestion and inconvenience have intensified, fuelling public anger over the delay in restoration.
