AGARTALA, April 6 (TIWN): Hundreds of loaded vehicles were stranded for several hours at NH44 due to the dilapidated condition of the National Highway-44 after torrential rains. Drivers and passengers blamed lack of monitoring of the roads by the authorities for their woes. Stranding of vehicular movement in the Nation Highways of Northeast during rainy seasons is a regular phenomenon but during the winter the road conditions are comparatively better. But this year there has been no repair at many spots which is leading to such problem. With rail connectivity having stopped from September 20 for broad gauge conversion work between Karimganj and Agartala, Tripura is totally dependent on the highway for importing fuel and food grains from Assam via Meghalaya. This dilapidated condition of rod is giving tough time to the common people while travelling through NH44. Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy visited Tripura-Assam National High to take a note of the working progress of the roadway.After 3 hours journey from morning 9 am he reached at Dharmanagar’s Premtala roadway at 12 pm. Governor Tathagata Roy surveyed a large area of NH-44 covering Premtala to Kathaltali(Assam) via Chankira(assam); then he took turn at Lowairpoa to reach here in Churaibari.

During the visit, Governor stopped at many places and inspected the road. However, the maximum road was left in deplorable condition and renovation work was of very low level.

Interestingly, at Premtala Tathagata Roy’s car was stopped due to the bad condition of road and the reportedly, he had to come out of the car.

Governor after inspecting the condition of National highway said that it is since 1 year that central govt. has interfered in state govt.’s work for this roadway and that is why in few places, the renovation work has been done well but being the life line of Tripura, the NH-44 would not be anymore left like this.

In whole India, the worst condition of Highway must be this North eastern part”, said Governor. It is to be mentioned here that “Lowair Poa is in the worst condition”.

The highway stretch in the state runs from Madlidhar (Assam-Meghalaya border) to Churaibari (Assam-Tripura border). For the last two to three years, no maintenance or repair of the road has taken place. Despite repeated requests to the National Highways Authority of India and the Union ministry of road transport and highways, the deplorable condition of the stretch remains unchanged.

Several protests have been staged in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya linked to the condition of NH 44.

For the last two to three years, there has been no maintenance of the roads here. Drivers are the worst sufferers of this and it is still continuing. Many vehicles are stranded there due to breakdown of various parts