NH-8 blocked for over nine hours; Rs 10 crore allocated, repair to begin within five days

Residents of Patharkandi in Karimganj district, on Monday, blocked National Highway-8 in different areas demanding repairs of the highway, which has been in a shambles for the past many months.

NH-8, which serves as the major connectivity route in Karimganj district, runs from Karimganj to Sabroom in Tripura.

Residents including students in huge numbers gathered at Tinkhal around 5am this morning and blocked the highway in protest against the dilapidated condition of the road, especially the stretch from Poamara to Churaibari that has turned into a “hotbed of mishaps” these days.

Similarly, residents in some other areas staged blockades over the matter. Because of the blockades, a large number of vehicles remain stranded on the road for long hours.

Receiving the information, a team of police rushed to Tinkhal and other areas, but the protesters did not withdraw the blockade. Eventually, Patharkandi circle-officer L. Kiangte visited different areas, talked with the enraged residents and urged them to call off the protest. However, the protesters did not agree and demanded that the road work be started from Tuesday.

The agitated people said commuters, especially students and elderly persons, had been facing a lot of trouble because of the abysmal condition of the road. The condition of the stretch from Poamara to Churaibari is such that it has become risky to travel with patients through the road, they said.

The protesters slammed both the Congress and BJP for the terrible condition of the road. “The Congress, despite remaining in power for many years, never bothered to take measures for repairs of the road. The common masses had voted for the BJP hoping that the saffron brigade would resolve the problem, but the BJP too turned out like the Congress only,” they rued.
Around 2pm, Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul came to know about the protest. Paul immediately contacted officials of the authority concerned and said an amount of Rs. 10 crore under State Own Priority Development (SOPD) had been allocated for repairs of the highway. Tender has been called for the project, Paul said.
Besides, the Centre has been urged so that more funds are released for the highway. Hopefully, some funds will be sanctioned soon, he added.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Paul said it was only because of the Congress’ negligence that the masses of Karimganj had been suffering immensely over the past several months. “The Congress is completely responsible for the pitiable condition of the highway,” he said.

A senior official of the PWD (national highway division) B.P. Das thereafter visited different areas (where the highway was blocked) and gave a written assurance to the protesters that the repair work of the road would be started within next five days. The blockades were withdrawn around 2:30pm.