‘Fix the Road or Face Indefinite Blockade’, Warn Kalain Residents

Hundreds of residents, traders, and local organisation members staged a road blockade at Kalain Bazar in Cachar district, protesting the poor condition of the Kalain-Silchar road on Sunday (May 4). The protest was sparked by years of neglect, frequent traffic jams, and unmotorable stretches made worse during both rainy and sunny days.

Across the Barak Valley, poor road conditions have long been a concern. However, this time, the people of Kalain have taken a strong stand. The Kalain-Silchar road, particularly at Kalain Bazar, becomes waterlogged and muddy after minor rain and turns into a dust storm zone during sunny days. Thousands of commuters, pedestrians, and traders face daily inconvenience. The road also connects with National Highway 6, making the congestion worse due to its strategic location.

During the protest, demonstrators blocked the road from the morning hours and chanted slogans demanding immediate repairs. Protesters warned that if the government fails to take urgent action, they will intensify the protest and block the road for an indefinite period.

One of the protesters, while addressing the media, said, “We are extremely unsatisfied with the terrible condition of this road. Every moment, there’s traffic, no parking space, dust, and whatnot. We have been suffering for over half a decade. It makes it extremely hard for us to take a patient to any hospital. In response to that, we have called for this protest today. We demand that the government repair the road of Kalain Bazar and the road to Silchar town.”

The protest site turned tense as demonstrators alleged that despite repeated appeals to public representatives and the administration, no proper solution was offered. The blockade continued for several hours until the Officer-in-Charge of Kalain Police Station arrived at the spot and assured that road repair work would begin in the coming days. Following this assurance, the blockade was lifted, and the Silchar-Kalain road reopened to traffic.