Barak Valley roads call for immediate repair

FROM OUR Special Correspondent

Silchar, July 31: The stretches of highways and roads across Barak Valley stand in need of immediate improvement in view of their deteriorating condition, creating hurdles and problems for commuters and vehicular traffic. No work could be undertaken by the PWD Road or NH division during the current monsoon. Rather, incessant rains and rough weather have played further havoc. According to the information from the ground, 115 km long NH 6 from Malidahar to Badarpurghat and Dhaleswar to Bhairabi (Mizoram) is one of the examples.

 Along with that, 15 km long NH 37 connecting Karimganj town with Sutarkandi and 115 km long NH 37 from Silchar to Lyalapur connecting Aizawl road as well as 57 km long NH 8 Karimganj to Churaibari have stretches which are full of craters and potholes. This Barak Valley has a total length of 287 km highways which need to be renovated and rehabilitated where the stretches have given way to the wear and tear of ture and the pressure of heavy vehicles.

 It is to be mentioned that during the Congress regime, there have been widespread resentment among the people in general about the worst condition of highways and roads. Even the Governor of Tripura Tathagata Roy, whose vehicle got stuck up in mud on NH 6, expressed his deepest sense of anguish and anger and wondered why the highway could not change its face. The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbanda Sonowal, after assuming power had a harrowing experience of moving through the roads and highways.

 At his direction, the Chief Engineer of PWD (NH), Nipendra Kumar Bora, along with his junior officials, a team of MLAs, made an on the spot inspection and realized the difficulties faced by the people in moving through the roads. Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of PWD, Excise and Fisheries, is well aware of the problems. During his recent talk with the Minister, bendu Shekhar th, president, Katigorah Development Committee, brought to his notice the deplorable condition of NH 6 to Rajatilla and Siddheswar,  Kalain to Silchar via Bihara and Kalain to Silchar via Bhagabazar as well as the road from Gumrah to tanpur have become cobbled and not worth use for the commuters and vehicular traffic.

 bendu Shekhar th pointed out Katigorah revenue circle lying on the intertiol border with Bangladesh has been hard hit by the lack of better connectivity. Being on the border, it has also strategic importance and that brings into focus the imperative need of dependable road connectivity. But, it has been a disappointing scerio for those in expectation of better results. Moreover, Parimal Suklabaidya happens to be from Dholai in Cachar. He has recently come out with the statement that in the next 25 days, things will improve as works for improvement of network of highways and roads in the state will begin.

 th regretted though Tarun Gogoi as Chief Minister of the state announced upgradation of Katigorah to sub division just on the eve of the last assembly elections, nothing concrete in this respect has emerged. It is more than 18 months that the declaration was made for sub division. But, till date the sub divisiol office is yet to see the light of the day. No infrastructure has come up. An important component of sub division is sub-treasury office. Nothing has been done to give it a concrete shape.

 Strangely enough, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Fince, Education and Health, during the budget session of the Assembly, spoke about the establishment of treasury offices in those areas which have not been declared sub division. He did not even mention the me of Katigorah. One of the criteria for a sub division is hinterland roads in better shape, besides the main connectivity. Parimal Suklabaidya however assured bendu Shekhar th of expeditious and time bound action plan to improve the roads and highways.