Aizawl: Truckers and commercial vehicle operators in Mizoram’s Kolasib district have announced a four-day strike starting October 23 to protest the poor condition of National Highway-306, a key arterial route connecting the state to Assam.
The agitation will be jointly led by the Kolasib unit of the Mizoram Tipper Association (MTA) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of commercial vehicle drivers and owners in Kolasib town.
NH-306, a stretch of which is also called NH-6, is the primary lifeline of Mizoram, linking state capital Aizawl with Assam’s Silchar town.
The blockade will be organised on the Sairang-Vairengte and Kolasib-Bairabi stretches of NH-306 from 7 am on October 23 till 4 pm on October 26 to mount pressure on the NHIDCL and the state government.
MTP Kolasib unit general secretary Vanlallungtiawia said that the Sairang–Vairengte and Kolasib–Bairabi stretches of NH-306 have deteriorated severely, despite being repaired as recently as July and August. The roads have now become unsafe for trucks and other vehicles, he said.
Several vehicles have reportedly been damaged and involved in accidents due to the poor condition of these sections, Vanlallungtiawia added.
State officials, however, said that repair work of the national highway is in progress.
Vanlallungtiawia alleged that though the State government and companies are currently repairing the roads, the work is moving at a snail’s pace.
The MTA and JAC have urged the state government and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to speed up repair work on the highway ahead of the approaching winter, he said.
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“The progress is extremely slow, and at this rate, the authorities may not be able to complete the repairs before the onset of the next rainy season,” he added.
Vanlallungtiawia also accused the NHIDCL of negligence, alleging that the central construction agency has not given adequate attention to the maintenance of roads under its care in Mizoram.
