Assam: Captain Jintu Gogoi Road in Golaghat Lies in Dilapidated Condition

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT: The Captain Jintu Gogoi Paved Road, approximately 7 kilometers long and connecting National Highway 37 at Badulipar in Golaghat district to Dhodor Ali in Khumtai, is now in a severely dilapidated condition, with potholes making it resemble a pond. This road is one of the busiest in the rural areas of the district.

Originally known as Khumtai Ali and maintained by the Public Works Department, this road was first paved in 2004. Later, the government renamed it in honour of Kargil hero Shaheed Captain Jintu Gogoi of Khumtai. Due to repeated demands from locals and various organizations over the years, the severely damaged road was reconstructed a few years ago with much fanfare. The reconstruction, costing around 7.5 crore rupees, was officially inaugurated on November 9, 2020, by Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, in the presence of MLA Mrinal Saikia, Jintu Gogoi’s father Thogiram Gogoi, and officials from the Indian Army.

Unfortunately, just two years after the newly-constructed road was opened, it has again fallen into a pitiful condition. The road now has large potholes, cracks, and crumbling sections, creating major difficulties for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Many have blamed the excessive use of the road by overloaded dump trucks transporting construction stones used in four-lane road projects. These heavy vehicles were frequently seen plying the road day and night. Although locals have tried to block their passage multiple times, operations resumed after a few days each time. As a result, there is now a strong possibility that the road will deteriorate even further very soon.

If the department does not repair the road immediately, the upcoming monsoon season could significantly disrupt travel for school and college students as well as others. Notably, although various media outlets have reported on the condition of this road for the past six months, the concerned department has shown no response. In this context, reports indicate that frustrated locals are preparing to organize a road blockade soon.

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