Protests Erupt at National Highway Point Over Deteriorating Road Conditions, Protestors Label Administration as “Deaf and Dumb”

Another wave of protests erupted in Silchar today, with residents taking to the streets to voice their frustrations over the deteriorating road conditions. Following last Wednesday’s blockade at Capital Road Point by YASE, various Civil Society groups rallied to demonstrate against what they termed the “Deaf and Dumb” Cachar District Administration.

Early this morning, residents from across Silchar town blocked the National Highway to demand action. The road, which connects Silchar town with Silchar Medical College and Hospital as well as several private nursing homes, becomes heavily waterlogged after each rainfall, causing significant issues for vehicles. At this point huge potholes in the size of mini ponds infiltrate the roads, leading to accidents and people getting hurt while returning from the hospital after treatment.

Hundreds of people in the town took to the streets on Saturday morning to make their demands heard. Leading the protest were senior citizens of the town along with homemakers. Several questions were raised against the various departments which seem to be in hibernation mode.

Protestors voiced their frustrations, stating, “We had no choice but to block the road today. Our roads have been neglected by the government for so long that they have essentially become large drains, perpetually waterlogged. The administration remains silent, and the lack of a municipal board exacerbates the situation, as officials seem content to stay in their offices, ignoring the town’s needs. Moreover, the government has outsourced road construction to private companies, which, protected by political connections, often use substandard materials and technology. Previously, when the BRTF handled road construction, the conditions were better. However, the government has since replaced them with private contractors, whose owners are seldom present, typically staying in Guwahati or elsewhere. Under the AMRUT Scheme, large pipes for drinking water were laid inside the drains, causing severe waterlogging as the drain water has no proper outlet. This poor planning has led to widespread flooding across the town. Our demands are simple: immediate and high-quality road repairs and a proper drainage system to prevent further waterlogging.”

The demonstrators demanded immediate and high-quality repair work, emphasizing the need to clear the drains to prevent waterlogging. “The government assured us that road repair would start from June 30, that is tomorrow. We will see if the work begins. The common people of Silchar have awakened, and those who have been deceiving us will face the consequences. We are living in hell. The exit channels of the drains are encroached, and the government is unable to clear them. Water used to flow out through drains into Malinibeel, but now there is daily waterlogging in Link Road. The Khals are clogged, and only upstream areas are dredged for show. We need downstream dredging. Until the roads are repaired, our movement will continue. We are not here for politics; we stand for development.”

When magistrates from the District Commissioner’s office attempted to stop the protest and restore vehicular movement, the protest leaders demanded the District Commissioner’s presence. They criticized the administration for turning a blind eye to the deteriorating road conditions, branding them as “deaf and dumb.”

As the protests continue, residents of Silchar await concrete actions to address the long-standing issue of poor road conditions, hoping for a swift and effective response from the authorities. Be it today’s protest or Wednesday’s protests, the elected representatives of the district were missing in action.