Road network on highway between Assam and Tripura in poor state, many vehicles still trapped

There has been no improvement in the condition of roads on a 15-kilometer-long stretch on National Highway-44 between Lower Powa in Assam, and Churaibari in Tripura.

The road has virtually turned into a paddy field since April following incessant rains and administrative neglect.

Despite repeated requests from the Government of Tripura to their Assam counterpart, as also to the National Highways Authority of India, the situation remains unchanged

Some 250 trucks carrying petroleum products, 300 trucks carrying perishable items like fish, potato, onion and fruits and a few hundred trucks with other essential items remain stranded at Lower Powa.

A few bulldozers have been brought in to remove the sludge and stuck vehicles, but in vain.

Drivers and their helpers, who have been without proper food, water or sanitation, complained about never seeing such a pathetic road condition as also the total apathy of the Government of Assam towards repairing the damaged road.

Commuters were found passing the stress of road on foot.

There is huge crisis of fuel, cooking gas and other essential commodities for the past few days in Tripura and the authority apprehends it to further deteriorate as the festival season is already on.

Meanwhile, urging immediate repair of the NH-44, two MPs from Tripura - Jitendra Chowdhury and Shankarprasad Datta - had jointly written letter to the Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The MPs mentioned that besides Tripura, Mizoram and Barak valley of Assam were also facing difficult situations because of the poor condition of the road in Assam.