Aasu blocks Dhodar Ali in Sivasagar, demands immediate repair
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Dibrugarh: Members of the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) staged a road blockade on Monday at Namti Chariali in Sivasagar district, demanding immediate repairs to the deteriorating road called Dhodar Ali. Local Aasu units from Amguri, Namti, and Salaguri led the protest, criticising the public works department (PWD) for failing to maintain the historic road.
The protesters highlighted the challenges faced by students, patients, and commuters due to the road's muddy, broken state. The 212-km-long Dhodar Ali, spanning Kamargaon in Golaghat district to Joypur in Dibrugarh district and passing through Jorhat and Sivasagar, carries historical significance yet remains in disrepair despite being taken up for renovation under the
Asom Mala Programme
in 2021.
Constructed in 1687 during the reign of Ahom king Gadadhar Singha, Dhodar Ali — nicknamed "Lazy Man's Road" for the laborers punished to build it because they were feigning laziness to avoid royal duties — serves as a vital thoroughfare but is unfinished due to contractor delays under the Asom Mala scheme.
"The condition of Dhodar Ali is unbearable. Students struggle to attend school, ambulances get stuck, and vehicles are damaged daily. The govt boasts about development, yet this historic road is neglected. If it can't maintain its heritage, what can we expect for other projects?" questioned Aasu Namti unit president Rituraj Dutta.
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With monsoons approaching, Aasu warned of intensifying protests if immediate action isn't taken. "The govt must hold contractors accountable and complete proper road repairs. Otherwise, the road will become impassable. Patients, farmers, and schoolchildren depend on this route daily," added Aasu Namti unit general secretary Kandarpa Neog.
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