The bad condition of the National Highways in the state came under sharp criticism in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Raising the issue, BJP MP Tapan Kumar Gogoi asked Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to know steps taken by the Government to improve it. Gogoi sought immediate repair of the two roads (NH-15 and NH-37).
In the reply, Minister Gadkari said that "Government has already started the four-laning project in the state. How could the concerned department complete the projects if the state government fails to allot land for NH? It's not the responsibility of the central government. The projects will complete only after getting all clearances from the Assam government and land-owners."
The roads were upgraded by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) but "chaotic conditions" now prevailed there as the road is full of huge potholes before the monsoon.
NH-15 that starts from Bihata Chariali is the only road communication in the North Bank in Assam, besides being the only means of communication to a major part of Arunachal Pradesh. Presently, the worst affected portion from Bihata Chariali to Gohpur, approximately 240 km, is now horrible to travel because of very big and deep potholes everywhere.
NH-37 starts from Guwahati and connects Tinsukia covering nine districts with a distance of over 400 km. This is the only route in the South Bank. Now in many places, the surface of the road has been worn out. The MP said that both the national highways are accident prone.
