Protesters block key Sivasagar road over lack of repair work

Time of India

14-05-2025

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Dibrugarh: Hundreds of irate locals, backed by the All Tai Ahom Students' Union (Atasu), staged a massive road blockade on the Bhuban Chandra Gogoi Road (BG Road) at Serekapar in Sivasagar district on Wednesday, protesting against the govt's failure to repair the severely dilapidated road.
The agitation, which lasted over two hours, brought traffic to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded before police and district officials intervened to pacify the demonstrators.Protesters shouted slogans condemning the "apathy" of authorities as the vital Sivasagar-Simaluguri stretch of BG Road turned into a muddy, crater-filled nightmare after the recent rainfall. Large sections of the road are under water, resembling ponds, while deep potholes and uneven surfaces have made commuting hazardous.What has particularly angered locals is that Rs 121 crore was sanctioned three years ago under the
Asom Mala Scheme
for the construction and widening of BG Road.
However, contractors reportedly abandoned the project before completion, leaving the infrastructure in worse condition than before."The road has been in a shambles for months, but after the recent downpour, it has become completely unusable. School children, office-goers, and emergency vehicles are suffering daily. We had no choice but to take this step to make our voices heard," said Partha Pratim Gogoi, general secretary of Atasu's Sivasagar district unit.Following two days of incessant rain, sections of the road have turned into virtual mud pools, causing vehicles to get stuck and risking accidents.
Several motorcyclists reported minor injuries from falls while navigating through the treacherous stretches."This road is a death trap. Two-wheelers skid, trucks get stuck, and ambulances can't pass. The govt sanctioned crores, but where is the result. The contractors vanished after partial work," Arunima Saikia, a local, said.The protesters lifted the blockade after receiving assurance from the district administration that immediate measures would be taken to address their concerns.