India Today exposes deplorable condition of Arunachal's Akajan-Likabali-Bame road, commuters face daily ordeal

Vehicular movement along the crucial Akajan-Likabali-Bame road corridor has been severely affected following continuous rainfall that triggered landslides and debris accumulation at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district.

 

The road, considered a lifeline for several districts of Arunachal Pradesh and an important route leading towards the Indo-China border region, has come under scrutiny for its deteriorating condition despite being declared complete under a project executed by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

 

The 105-km Akajan-Bame road connects Akajan in Assam with Bame in Arunachal Pradesh. The project, executed in two packages under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East (SARDP-NE), was intended to provide a two-lane highway connectivity corridor. However, commuters continue to face difficulties, particularly around Siji and adjoining stretches, where erosion and road damage have worsened during the monsoon season.

 

Residents told India Today that road washouts, landslides and damaged stretches have become a recurring problem over the past four years, even after the project was officially listed as completed.

 

According to Lower Siang District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Tarik Nyitan, road blockages were reported earlier at Siji, Hathi Nallah and Brahmaputra View Point, disrupting one of the primary road corridors connecting Arunachal Pradesh's upper districts with the rest of the state.

 

Locals have expressed concern over the condition of the road, alleging inadequate maintenance and questioning the quality of infrastructure development on a route that serves as a vital transportation link for both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.