Pasighat: Once hailed as key components of the Trans Arunachal Highway project, major stretches of National Highway-515 and National Highway-13 in Arunachal Pradesh have fallen into severe disrepair, triggering growing concerns over commuter safety, connectivity, and infrastructure maintenance.
Deep potholes, broken road surfaces and eroded patches have turned sections of the highways into hazardous stretches, affecting thousands of commuters, transport operators and local residents who depend on them every day.
The worst-affected stretch of NH–515 lies between Jonai in Assam and Pasighat, passing through Ruksin, Sille, Oyan, Rani and 7 Mile. The highway serves as a vital gateway to central and eastern Arunachal Pradesh, connecting districts including East Siang, Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang, Shi-Yomi, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Namsai and Lohit.
Similarly, sections of NH-13, particularly from Raneghat to Mebo and onward to Dambuk and Roing, have deteriorated significantly. The Raneghat-Ayeng-Mebo corridor is reportedly riddled with deep craters, damaged surfaces and heavily eroded portions, with some stretches near Ayeng village, Siku Bridge and Mebo Char-ali becoming almost impassable.
Residents say the roads have remained in poor condition despite being part of the ambitious Trans Arunachal Highway project, with little evidence of sustained maintenance over the years.
Daily commuters have expressed frustration over the worsening condition of the highways, saying the damaged roads not only increase travel time but also result in frequent vehicle repairs and higher transportation costs. They noted that these roads are crucial for access to healthcare, education, markets and emergency services.
The issue dates back to 2015-16, when the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways transferred responsibility for these highway stretches from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to the State Public Works Department (PWD).
The transfer had faced opposition from the Pasighat-Bomjir NH-52 Bachao Committee, which had submitted memorandums to Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and the then Director General of BRO in 2016. The committee had warned that the state PWD lacked the capacity to maintain such strategically important highways.
A decade later, many of those concerns appear to have materialised. Apart from the deteriorating road surface, several bridges along the route are also reportedly showing signs of damage, while public dissatisfaction has intensified on social media over what many describe as prolonged official inaction.
Although limited patchwork repairs were carried out on portions near the 7 Mile bridge and Raneghat bridge following reports highlighting the issue in 2025, commuters claim the repairs were temporary. Fresh potholes have since emerged at the same locations, raising questions over the quality of the maintenance work.
Residents are now demanding regular maintenance and long-term restoration of the highways instead of short-term patch repairs.
The deteriorating condition of NH-515 and NH-13 has also raised concerns beyond civilian transportation. The highways serve as important strategic routes for the movement of security forces towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC), making their upkeep critical from both connectivity and national security perspectives.
Locals have urged the State PWD Highway Division and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) to explain the prolonged delay in repairing the roads and ensure immediate restoration of these key transport corridors.