AIZAWL: The Mizoram Truck Owners’ Association (MTOA) and the truck drivers’ association suspended operations on the Aizawl-Silchar national highway, the state’s main link to Assam, in protest against the deteriorating condition of the road on Thursday.
Dina Tlau, the general secretary of MTOA, informed the media that trucks transporting essential goods and construction materials halted operations from 7 am on Thursday in protest against the poor condition of the highway.
Officials stated that, however, oil tankers and trucks carrying cooking gas continued their operations without interruption. Tlau mentioned that the NH-306/06 (Aizawl-Silchar road), which was damaged during last year’s monsoon, has not been repaired for an extended period.
The national highway, especially the Kawnpui-Khamrang/Sairang sector, is the most severely damaged, and truck owners and drivers transporting essential commodities from outside the state are now hesitant to travel on it.
He accused the state government and other relevant authorities of promising to repair the road during the winter, but no action has been taken so far. He said that the Mizoram Trippers’ Association, Kolasib District Trippers’ Association, and truck owners and drivers from Kolasib and Kawnpui towns have also expressed their support for the ongoing strike.
Meanwhile, the Mizoram Public Works Department (PWD) stated in a release that repair work on NH-306/06 between Sairang and Vairengte began on a war footing starting January 20. The statement added that around 20 laborers, along with earth excavators, vibratory rollers, and tripper trucks, have been deployed for the repair work.
The statement noted that although the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had already announced the transfer of the NH between Sairang and Vairengte to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the two sectors from Bilkhawthlir to Kolasib and Kawnpui to Khamrang remain under the state PWD.
The department explained that projects for the Bilkhawthlir to Kolasib and Kawnpui to Khamrang sectors were completed last year with the intention of handing them over to NHIDCL. However, the process was delayed because the contractor responsible for the maintenance work on the Kawnpui-Khamrang sector was unable to carry out the task, leading to the termination of their contract.
The department stated that the state government allocated Rs 75 lakh last year for repairing potholes along the Kawnpui to Khamrang sector, as the MoRTH was no longer able to approve maintenance funds.
The department mentioned that since the NHIDCL failed to take over the two sectors by December last year or January this year, as agreed in a high-level meeting, the state PWD has requested additional funds from the state government to repair the Kawnpui to Khamrang sector.
Saizikpuii, the director of the State Civil Supply department, informed the media that they have an adequate stock of rice for January, and the ration quotas for the month are being distributed. She mentioned that food grains for February and monsoon stock are currently being transported.
She expressed optimism that rice transportation would resume soon, as truckers may call off the strike with the repair work underway. The official also stated that the supply of oil and LPG gas has not been disrupted by the ongoing strike.
