North Lakhimpur: Potholes and an uneven surface have severely disrupted daily movement along State Highway-43 connecting Narayanpur, Bihpuria and Laluk in Lakhimpur district, forcing commuters and vehicle operators to grapple with unsafe travel conditions.
The 25-km stretch of SH-43 from Narayanpur to Laluk has deteriorated sharply, posing serious risks especially for e-rickshaws and small transport vehicles. Locals say the road, the only major artery linking three key centres of the district, has become almost unusable between Narayanpur and Bihpuria.
The highway connects important institutions such as Madhabdev University, Lakhimpur District Civil Hospital and Bihpuria College. However, massive potholes and craters dot nearly the entire stretch, leading to frequent breakdowns and accidents.
An e-rickshaw driver said the damaged surface has caused repeated mechanical failures to his vehicle and warned that the situation could worsen during the monsoon, with waterlogging likely to flood the deep craters. He expressed dissatisfaction over what he termed continued apathy by the concerned departments.
A local resident echoed similar concerns, stating that government claims of development have not translated into ground reality, as thousands of commuters continue to suffer daily due to the deplorable condition of the highway.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the Assam Public Works Department had issued a tender for improvement and upgradation of State Highway-43 under the Asom Mala 3.0 programme. The tender (Reference No. CE/DEV/TB/116/2025-26/01 dated July 29, 2025) covers the stretch from Km 0.00 to Km 25.05 at an estimated cost of Rs 27.46 crore, with a stipulated completion period of 540 days.
Asom Mala 3.0 is a flagship infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening Assam’s road network by constructing 883 km of high-speed corridors and 36 new bridges across 34 districts at a total cost of Rs 3,217 crore. The programme, approved by the Assam Cabinet on November 13, seeks to enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and boost economic growth across the state.