FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR, May 22: The 15-km stretch of tiol Highway 37 from Sivasagar to Gaurisagar will surely give any traveler a horrifying experience. To call it ‘pot-hole ridden’ would be an understatement, since the pot holes have turned into almost two-feet deep ditches which are a hallmark of this road stretch.
During the rainy season, the condition of the road is at its worst. Almost the entire stretch is under water after even a light rain.
But the authorities concerned have been turning a blind eye to the deplorable road condition which has been causing immense inconvenience to the travelers. The road condition has even increased risks of accidents as many a time drivers cannot detect the deep pot holes which are filled by waters after a downpour.
The highway is an extremely busy route.
The Public Works Department has also been a mute spectator so far.
Monoj Bora, a resident of Gaurisagar and employee of Sivasagar DC office, who has to travel everyday to Sivasagar by his car through this road, told this correspondent that he has never seen a tiol highway in this condition elsewhere. “I travel on this road every day. Since Bihu (April), I had to replace two tyres as they got damaged due to the road condition. With coming of rainy seasons, the condition has become more horrible,” said Bora.
It may be mentioned that the condition of the roads in Sivasagar has always been poor. Damages appear on the roads within days of construction, raising suspicion of the quality of work done by the contractors.
The roads are also marked by bad riding quality and insufficient pavement thickness. Apart from being rrow, they are also highly congested.
A four-lane road is still a dream for the people here. People have raised demands for high quality road construction and action against unscrupulous contractors who compromise with quality during construction.