The Dibrugarh district committee of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Monday staged a protest and blocked the National Highway 37 at Chaulkhowa for an hour in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district demanding immediate repair of the highway.
Meanwhile, due to the blockade at Chalkhowa, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal‘s meeting at Bindhakata High School in Chabua was delayed.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Also read: Assam CM sets 30-hr deadline for NHIDCL to repair NH 37
The condition of the NH 37 from Dibrugarh to Tinsukia has been in a pathetic condition for many months but no repair work has been done. Big potholes have been created causing trouble for the vehicles to pass through the Chaulkhowa road.
“Despite several pleas to the department concerned, they are not showing any interest to repair the NH 37. The condition of road was so worst that any time accidents can happen. We are protesting here for immediate repair of the road,” said a member of AASU.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
On July 5, Chief Minister Sonowal strongly directed the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to take immediate steps for repair and construction of the damaged roads at a meeting in Dibrugarh.
Sonowal directed the NHIDCL to repair the dilapidated portions of NH 37 in Dibrugarh within 30 hours.
The meeting was attended by General Manager of NHIDCL Ajitpal Singh Brar and several other senior officials.
Dibrugarh AASU president Sankor Jyoti Baruah said, “The condition of NH 37 from Dibrugarh to Tinsukia has been in a pathetic condition since many months but no repair work has been carried out. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took stock of the condition of the road from Naliapool to Chaulkhowa and directed the official of NHIDCL to repair the road within 30 hours but till date the road has not been repaired.”
“It has been clear that the officials of NHIDCL have not taken the direction of the Chief Minister seriously. After that, we again submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh but as we didn’t get any reply, we decided to lunch this protest,” added Baruah.
Moreover, the road from Tinkonia to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) has been in worst condition and as a result the patients, who go for treatment at AMCH, face immense trouble while passing through the road.
The AASU leader further said, “After the protest, the NHIDCL authority has given written an assurance to us where they said within 18 months, the repair work of NH 37 from Dibrugarh to Barbarua will be completed for which Rs 32 crore has already been sanctioned.”