Construction on a major national highway project in Jharkhand has been forcibly brought to a standstill by local residents. A day after a parliamentary inspection, hundreds of villagers from Ramgarh district staged a protest on Tuesday, halting all work on the high-profile Ormanjhi–Gola–Jainamod Bharatmala road project.
Protest Erupts Over Unmet Demands
The agitation was centered near Kulhi village in the Dulmi block. Organised under the banner of the AJSU-P party, the protestors have one primary demand: the construction of an interchange with an underpass at Kulhi Chowk. They argue that the needs of this densely populated area have been completely overlooked by the authorities.
The protest followed an inspection on Monday by Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary, who is also from the AJSU-P. After reviewing the stretch passing through Dulmi and Gola blocks, the MP expressed strong dissatisfaction. He publicly alleged that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) failed to address the critical requirement of an interchange at the key junction, neglecting local interests.
A High-Value Infrastructure Project
The project in question is a significant piece of national infrastructure. It involves converting a 60-kilometer road stretch from Ormanjhi (Ranchi) to Jainamore (Bokaro) via Gola in Ramgarh into a modern four-lane expressway. The work is being executed under the central government's flagship Bharatmala Pariyojana with a massive estimated cost of Rs 2,224 crore.
Jaleshwar Mahto, the central vice president of AJSU-P, issued a firm statement regarding the work stoppage. He declared that the villagers have stopped the construction and will not allow it to resume until their demands are fully met by the concerned authorities.
Administration and NHAI Respond
The local administration has acknowledged the issue but indicated its limited jurisdiction. Ramgarh District Commissioner Faiz Aq Ahmad Mumtaz stated that while the administration would look into the matter, the Bharatmala project is a Union government undertaking. Consequently, the issues raised by the locals fall under the purview of central government authorities for resolution.
On the technical side, NHAI Project Director Ekta Kumari provided clarification on the current plan. She explained that an underpass has already been provided approximately 100 metres away from Kulhi Chowk. Furthermore, she stated that a road overbridge and interchange are planned near Gola. The NHAI's decision, she noted, is based on established norms that mandate a specific distance between interchanges on such expressways.
The standoff highlights the frequent tension between large-scale infrastructure development and the ground-level needs of affected communities. With the protestors adamant and the project at a halt, the ball now lies in the court of the central authorities to find a solution that balances engineering norms with public demand.
