Students protest on road, threaten NH6 blockade over neglected repairs

Thousands of students, local residents, and officials from various voluntary organizations staged a protest in Katigorah constituency, Assam, demanding urgent repairs to a perilous rural road connecting National Highway 6 to Bhairabpur. As a symbolic gesture, they planted saplings on the road, highlighting the dire need for maintenance.

The road, which has been in a hazardous state for the past four years, serves as a critical lifeline for over 5,000 students from primary to college levels. Despite multiple verbal and written appeals for repair, no action has been taken by the authorities, prompting the protesters to threaten a blockade of National Highway 6 if their demands are not addressed promptly.

Protesters revealed that substantial funds were allocated in 2019 under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for the road’s construction. Guidelines mandated five years of maintenance, yet the road has not been maintained, and the contractor has not revisited the site. The protesters have issued a final warning, stating that they will block the national highway if immediate repairs are not carried out.