AGARTALA, July 27 (TIWN): Tired of pleading with the Centre and the Assam government for repair of just a 5-km stretch of National Highway 8-44 on the Assam border for the past several months, the Tripura has now asked the IOC to dispatch petrol through freight trains, said Food and Civil Supplies Director Soumitra Banerjee . The food grains stock meanwhile is fast depleting in the state. Talking to TIWN correspondent Food and Civil Supplies Director Soumitra Banerjee said the state’s stock of food grains was fast dwindling because a large number of trucks transporting those items have remained stuck in Karimganj district in Assam. Facing acute crisis of petrol and diesel due to the damaged Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH8-44) following heavy rains and water logging, the Tripura government has proposed IOC to dispatch fuel by freight train, he added. It is closed since almost two months as a result of which oil tankers cannot enter the State. So, state have sent a proposal to IOCL to dispatch fuel by freight trains. It is to be mentioned here that IOCL was asked to take up the matter with the N-F Railway and arrange to send fuel without delay as the State was facing acute crisis.

There is nothing to deny that only after the state took the responsibility of NH844, the condition has deteriorated drastically. It can be said that in India it is only NH844 who is suffering the most with poor and pathetic condition.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's claims that the Tripura is developing faster than any other state but the poor condition of road mainly NH8-44 which plays an important role in developing a State speaks opposite. Prolonged deplorable condition of the road under the years of Maniks regime is deeply questioned with the criticism of NH8-44.

The condition of National Highway has worsened after it was handed over to the State PWD by NHAI, which raised hopes among the commuters that their troubles would meet an end. But their hopes went to vein as the condition of the NH8-44 is getting worse day by day. After taking over the charge of maintenance of NH8-44 the PWD is not working up to the mark.

After the state PWD department took over the charge of maintenance of NH8-44, the PWD has not work up to the mark for its maintenance. After the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MORTH) handed over development and maintenance of 104 km of the Assam Agartala National Highway (NH8-44) to the PWD from Border Roads Organization (BRO) in July 16th, 2013, the condition of theNH8-44 has worsen day-by-day due to negligence of PWD.

State Govt's apathy towards maintaining NH8-44 in proper condition resulted in turning Tripura's lifeline NH8-44 into a ditch in CM Manik Sarkar's so called 'golden era' and has turned to death trap and is left in pathetic condition raising the woe of the common people.