Kaushik Rai Convenes Emergency Meet at Janata Bhawan Over Southern Assam’s Connectivity Crisis

In response to the worsening communication crisis in Barak Valley and Dima Hasao, a high-level emergency meeting was held today at Janata Bhawan, Dispur. The meeting was chaired by Assam Public Works and National Highways Minister Nandita Gorlosa, along with Barak Valley Development Minister Kaushik Rai, and saw participation from top officials across departments overseeing infrastructure, railways, and highways.

The meeting brought together senior representatives from the Barak Valley Development Department, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to take stock of the region’s crippled connectivity. The Barak Valley, along with Dima Hasao, has been reeling under disrupted rail and road links for several weeks due to incessant rains, landslides, and poor maintenance.

Top among the issues discussed was the restoration of the Lumding–Badarpur railway line, which has been repeatedly affected by landslides. The resumption of regular passenger train services between Silchar and Guwahati and the stabilisation of train schedules also featured prominently.

The deteriorating condition of the Jatinga–Harangajao road in Dima Hasao, a lifeline for East-West movement, was another key agenda. Ongoing works under the East-West Corridor project and repairs of the critical Gamon Bridge over the Barak River in Badarpur were reviewed. Officials acknowledged the urgency of restoring these links before the situation worsens further during the monsoon.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Barak Valley Development Department Adil Khan, Cachar DC Mridul Yadav, Dima Hasao DC Simanta Das, NF Railway AGM Bir Bhadra Vishwakarma, CTE Yogesh Verma, NHIDCL Executive Director Riten Kumar Singh, Senior Director Suraj Kumar, and NHAI Deputy Manager Tushar P. Biswas, among others.

While the meeting acknowledged the gravity of the crisis, no concrete announcements regarding timelines for repairs or alternative arrangements were made public.

The people of Barak Valley and neighbouring regions have been reeling from immense hardship, with both major road routes—via Meghalaya and Dima Hasao—partially blocked or unstable, and rail connectivity disrupted at least thrice in the past month. Mounting public frustration is also fuelled by the apparent lack of swift governmental action and clear communication.

With the region’s population growing increasingly anxious, today’s meeting signals some urgency, but the people now await action beyond reviews and discussions.