Guwahati, June 25 (IBNS): A road – which is the lifeline of around 5-7 lakh people living in Assam’s Dima Hasao and Cachar districts – is in a terrible state and has been reduced to a pool where buffaloes cool off.
The National Highway – 54 (E), part of the East West Corridor – the dream project of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The road runs for around 493 kilometres from Silchar to Itanagar via Kalain.
This road is now full of potholes and gigantic craters where buffaloes are seen cooling off in the accumulated water.
The condition of this National Highway – 54 (E) is the worst between Mahur to Harangajao and Balacherra in Dima Hasao district.
Commuters have to suffer a lot, especially during the monsoon season, due to deplorable condition of the road.
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In 2011, a construction firm JKM Infra was engaged by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for constructing the National Highway in between Jatinga-Harangajao in Dima Hasao district, but even after five years, the construction company failed to complete the work.
Thereafter, some other companies were also engaged to complete the work, but they also failed to finish it.
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On June 24, the people of Harangajao area in Dima Hasao district demonstrated to highlight the deplorable condition of the road and demanded it be repaired at the earliest.
“You cannot even call it a road, much less a national highway. The government should build a proper road at the earliest," said Sandeep Das, a local resident.
Haflong-based journalist Pankaj Timung said the people of the Harangajao, Jatinga and Balicherra were facing a lot of problems because of the deplorable condition of the road.
Some days ago, a child of Harangajao area, died on the way to the hospital.
“If they (government) do not work properly then we will take up an indefinite road blockade programme after one month. It is called the East West Corridor, which connects Barak Valley area and Tripura, Mizoram. But there is negligence from the part of government and they are not doing their duty. The road is becoming like a river, potholes are big and the buffaloes are swimming in the potholes. We are facing tremendous problems. Our district headquarter is Haflong, which is 40 km away from Harangajao. But we are not able to reach Haflong properly. A pregnant woman gave birth on the way. We have been facing these problems over the past 10-15 years,” local resident Biswajit Paul said.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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