AURANGABAD: NGO Janhith Sanghatna, which launched a 16-day long agitation to protest the substandard road works in the city, called off their agitation on Friday evening after public works department (PWD) engineer (national highway) issued directions to inquire the allegations raised by the NGO.The PWD undertook the project of renewing the stretch of road from Harsul to Baba Petrol Pump and from Baba Petrol Pump to Chikalthana. The project was carried out in the last two to three months. The aforementioned stretch comprises 12 kilometres of the city's two most important and round-the-clock busy roads.However, according to activists of Janhith Sanghatna, the project was carried out in a hurry using substandard material and flouting the standards of civil road construction. NGO president Imran Shaikh said that the the poor quality of work undertaken would soon damage the roads which form the communication lifeline for the city. He alleged a quid pro quo between the contractor and the officials who carried out the project.The activists had launched a chain agitation in front of the divisional commissionerate on January 24 to press upon the commissisoner the need to initiate an inquiry into the project.Subsequently, replying to the divisional commissioner's inquiry, the PWD office had told it had inspected the works and found it of good quality. However, the NGO refused to accept the reply and continued with the agitation demanding for a high -level inquiry.On Friday, the agitators received a letter from the PWD chief engineer (national highway), Mumbai through the divisional commissioner, stating that the work would be inspected by the vigilance and quality control department as per demand. The agitation was called off after the receipt of the assurance.When asked, PWD engineer LS Joshi said that road was in a poor shape for the last 10 years and it was the efforts of the PWD that led to the repair works being undertaken and completed. Responding to the shoulder gap left towards the middle of the road, Joshi said that the work was yet to be completed. When asked about the depressions at regular intervals due to the manholes, the PWD engineer said that the project was limited to renewal and not construction.Meanwhile, the NGO has expressed confidence over the probe that will be undertaken by vigilance and quality control department.

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