Accidents on NH-37

The news item in your esteem daily on 12th July 2019 captioned “young poet killed in road accident” left me dumbfounded as yet another promising youth had to succumb at his prime in the killer highway NH-37 in and around Sonapur. It is seen that there is no enforcement in the highway, especially in and around Khanapara to the Jorabat stretch of NH-37. Big Lorries, dumpers ply wherever they want to and the result is a dangerous killing zone. Often we see heavy vehicles, especially from evening till midnight, use to move from the wrong side of the highway at their wish in order to go to the fuel station or while coming out from the fuel station. I personally had to encounter dangerous maneuvers while riding with family in and around Jorabat as big lorries, dumpers suddenly arrive just in front of the car taking the wrong side. For instance, it is a common sight when someone is coming from Sonapur to Guwahati and suddenly to the left we would find a big truck moving with speed in order to get into a fuel station. Worst, no traffic police on duty is seen, not to speak of enforcers from the Transport department. Where have they gone? How many deaths just like yesterday’s one will be enough for the Government to wake up from its slumber and do something meaningful to avoid such tragic deaths? Babus, netas roam around freely in convoys so they don’t see the reality but is it a civilized way to rule when people are dying due to no enforcement? The government must ensure dedicated highway patrol, enforcement staff must be present round the clock and strict implementation of rules of “lane driving” for category of vehicles must be put into place so that tragic deaths do not occur. In the Jorabat area, there can be joint patrol by Meghalaya Police and Assam Police for which steps must be initiated by both the governments. The fuel stations must be regulated regarding entry and exit route. I appeal to the Government: please wake up and prevent deaths. May the departed soul of Paban Pallab Barman rests in peace!

Rajib Chakravorty,

Zoo Narangi Road,

Guwahati- 24.