𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐇-𝟓𝟐𝐁

 

What should have been a simple concrete milestone on the Changlang–Khonsa stretch of NH-52B has turned into a symbol of everything that is wrong with poor-quality public works. As clearly visible in the image, the concrete casing has broken open, exposing bamboo used in place of iron rods inside the structure.

Milestones are meant to be durable, weather-resistant, and long-lasting, as they remain exposed to rain, heat, and constant roadside impact. Standard construction norms require proper reinforcement to ensure strength. Replacing iron rods with bamboo is not a cost-cutting innovation or a local adjustment - it is a direct violation of basic construction standards.

Such practices raise serious concerns:

Public money misuse, where cheaper materials are used despite sanctioned budgets

Lack of inspection and monitoring by responsible authorities

Normalisation of substandard work, even on a National Highway

Erosion of public trust, when even milestones fail basic quality checks

If bamboo can replace iron rods in something as visible as a milestone, one can only imagine the condition of less visible structures. What was supposed to guide travellers by distance now points directly toward systemic corruption and negligence in infrastructure development in Arunachal Pradesh.