Pathetic condition of NH-39 makes life miserable for commuters

From a Correspondent

Bokajan, June 11: The busy NH 39 highway, which incidentally happens to be the principal link to the States of galand and Manipur, passing through Bokajan via mbor Reserve Forest, is in a pathetic condition causing inconvenience to the commuters. The 60-km stretch of road running between mbor Reserve Forest and Lahorijan of Assam-galand inter-State border is replete with trenches and potholes leading to frequent mishaps.

Strewn with up to one foot deep ditches, the poor condition of this road poses serious threat to life and property. Situation turns worse at the time of rains with potholes being filled with water. Vehicles break down frequently and accidents are common place as the risk of vehicles toppling these ditches always runs high. A Wagon R vehicle suddenly lost control and slammed into a roadside tree in the Matipul area on NH 39 on late Friday afternoon. The driver, Md Aashiq Hussain, was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition but he succumbed to injuries there.

The story of potholes claiming lives in the highways are not new. Not only are lives being tragically lost in avoidable accidents but alarmingly, the victims are primarily held responsible while the civic agencies responsible for repair works are left to the oblivion of the general people.

Paramedics state that patients at the back of an ambulance are affected more in the attempt to vigate the roads than by their physical ailments for which they are being rushed to the hospital. They find it increasingly difficult to perform medical procedures as they experience the bumpiest rides along this section of the highway.

There has been a murmur amongst the concerned citizens of this industrial town about the apathy of the authorities concerned in carrying out the much needed repair works. Some are of the view that the civic authorities must form an immediate response team to fill up the potholes regularly as and when they appear rather than go through the time consuming tender process to deal with the problems.

While talking to The Sentinel, a noted social worker, Bokul Chandra Borkotoky said, “The road is not in a good condition and commuters have to undergo the bitter experience of vigating this stretch of highway. The authorities are sometimes seen filling the potholes with loose roadside mud which are left eroded in no time. The problem here is the fact that there is no single mechanism to deal with the permanent solution of restoring the potholed roads in the State, even though many people lose their lives due to lack of maintence of the roads.”