Friday Deadline! Fix Silchar Roads or Face Road Blockade: Silchar Residents

Residents of Silchar, under the banner of United Citizens, staged a symbolic “Thank You” campaign at Meherpur on Monday (July 13) to protest the poor condition of roads, waterlogging, traffic congestion and unplanned road works. The joint platform of 16 organisations has given the government until Friday to take visible action, warning that a road blockade will begin on Saturday if their demands are not met.

The protesters said the Meherpur road is a vital route connecting major institutions including Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam University and the National Institute of Technology. They alleged that the road has remained in a poor condition for a long time, causing daily hardship for thousands of patients, doctors, students and commuters. Even light rainfall, they said, leads to severe waterlogging and long traffic jams.

Speaking to the media, a woman representing the protesters said a memorandum had been submitted to the District Commissioner with what she described as a simple demand, repairing the road. She also highlighted the need for a proper drainage system and alleged that illegal roadside parking has made the situation worse. According to her, pedestrians often struggle to walk because of vehicles parked unlawfully, while ambulances, school students and other road users face serious difficulties. She said the group would wait until Friday and, if no visible steps were taken, they would block the road from Saturday. She added that the protest was not directed against any individual or organisation but was solely aimed at securing better roads for the public.

Local activist Sanjiv Rai also addressed the gathering and said the road becomes flooded within an hour of rainfall. He demanded immediate repairs and proper drainage to prevent recurring waterlogging. Rai further claimed that if roads in other parts of Assam were in a similar condition, the government would have faced stronger public backlash. He said the people of Silchar and Barak Valley have continued to protest peacefully despite repeated inconvenience and harassment, and urged the authorities to respond to the public’s concerns.

United Citizens stated that if road repairs, drainage improvements and measures to ease traffic congestion are not initiated by Friday, the organisation will launch its proposed “Road Strike” from Saturday. It also warned that if the situation remains unchanged, it may intensify the agitation through larger public protests, continuous demonstrations and, if necessary, a Silchar shutdown.